A trip down memory lane for me, a re-awakening of the love of Zimbabwean music and a film, Mbira Music - Spirit of the People. Made in 1990, it's a documentary about the role of music in the war of independence in Zimbabwe, how the music sounds happy when it is really angry, how the words and the songs kept the people's spirits up and helped them to unite against the colonialists. The best line of the film award goes to the White general (was it actually Ian Smith? I don't know what he looks like) who says The time of war is behind us, let us unite and work together for we are no longer enemies. This is a bloody good country, it's a bloody great country and we don't care WHAT you want to call it. I am minded of the Holy Grail line 'let's not fight about who killed who'... There is some fantastic music on there, some names I hadn't heard of (to my shame) like Comrade Chinx, who in this film is portrayed as a hero, leading the revolution in song.
Sadly, Comrade Chinx remained loyal to the ruling party long after Mugabe went mad, and has himself recently become an ironic victim of the big reform operation, winding up in hospital earlier this year after his mansion was razed to the ground after he shot at the Police. Yet another example of the madness over there.
Anyway. Music. After the film, Chartwell Dutiro takes to the stage in traditional Kaftan, Mbira in hand. After a brief soundcheck he begins to sing. We are entranced, he encourages audience participation and we all sing under our breath, gathering confidence as the night goes on. It is strange to be doing this here, in a cinema. It all seems so formal. Yet Chartwell is charming, the music is beautiful and we are entranced. I resolve to give more time to African music, it's in my roots. Well my bro was born there... I tell people I grew up in Zimbabwe, but really it was just five formative years of my life - ages 5-10. Tis indeed a tragedy what is going on over there...