in the groove:with Fred Zindi
Simon “Chopper” Chimbetu posed a very critical question to God when he wrote the song Samatenga. Why did he ask God: Ko hama dzedu dzinotisiya dziripiko? Sei, Mwari, muchitipa nguva yakaoma? (God, where are our dead relatives? Why do you God give us such a hard time?) Chimbetu wanted an answer to these questions before he himself departed from this earth.
As Christians, we all believe that there is life after death. This is one reason why most of us go to church or read the Bible in order to get the reassurance and strength in our beliefs.
As Christians, we also talk about being immortal, reincarnation, eternal existence and being resurrected. We do not have to experience these in order to believe them. When one has been constantly bombarded with such theories from childhood to adulthood, one is bound to believe them.
Several theories also tell us that life continues after death. Even the Buddhists have a theory called “Wheel of Life” which depicts the perpetual cycle of reincarnation. They call this belief Samsara.
However, it looks like what happens to our relatives when they die (or when they leave this earth) remains a top secret. Even when Chimbetu asked: Toubvunza mubvunzo toubvunza, he did not get a reply. Only God has the answer for this question. The only life we know is the one we enjoy right here on earth but although the preachers keep reminding us and we believe there is an after-life, nobody really knows what it’s like after death and how life continues after that. One thing for certain is that this life is not your last. After you die, you will be born again. It may take a thousand years, but you will reincarnate and experience eternal inflation. Children have been known to have memories of past lives. Their stream of consciousness continues to grow even after death, it is said.
Short of dying and experiencing the after-life myself, like Simon, I have a lot of imaginations which I will speak about below in this article. There is no way to directly test the existence or the absence of an after-life. Despite our inability to ever see it while still living here on earth, there are many questions we ask ourselves: “What has happened to our ancestors and all our loved ones?” “How are they being treated in heaven?” We also ask: “Are they in heaven or in hell?” Who goes to heaven and who goes to hell depends on the spiritual level of that being. We often speculate that those who go to hell are the murderers, corrupt people, thieves, looters, rapists and other evil people. The question of who is in heaven or who is in hell remains a top secret which we, mere mortals, have been unable to unearth.
It is generally believed that a person survives the death of their body but the spirit remains alive. This is one reason why we go to their graveside and speak to the departed with strong emotions as if they can still hear our words.
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Now let’s go to my imaginations: I am imagining that several (late) musicians are gathered in heaven and God has given them an assignment to form an orchestra which must perform 15 pieces at a heavenly concert. Safirio Madzikatire and Tendai Mupfurutsa have been given this assignment to get the performance ready for the following Saturday. They are undecided on which musicians to include in the orchestra and which songs to select for the orchestra’s repertoire.
It is January 26, 2019 and Oliver Mtukudzi enters through one of the Pearly Gates of Heaven singing Rufu Ndimadzongonyedze. Tuku is most welcome and everybody agrees that there is no question about his inclusion into the orchestra. Comrade Chinx also suggests that Tuku should also sing Nhamo Dzandimomotera. Then Chimbetu indicates that as we are nearer to God now, we can ask Him the question I have always wanted an answer for. So please include Samatenga in the repertoire and ask God for His permission to let us write letters to the relatives we left behind. We need to inform them that we are having a good life here. System Tazvida comes up with Anodyiwa Haataure and asks the leaders, Mukadota and Prince Tendai, to include that song in the programme.
However, John Chibadura thinks that, that tune is too light-weight. Instead, he argues, Zuva Rekufa Kwangu should be part of the pieces to be played on the night. Solomon Skuza sees it fit to include Love And Scandals while James Chimombe comments that Siya Waoneka should be part of the repertoire because some of the musicians gathered there had left abruptly without saying goodbye to their fans. All the Four Brothers, Marshall Munhumumwe; Alex Chipaika; Frank Sibanda and Never Mutare who had been left out of the orchestra, agree with Chimombe. As a favour, their song Ziva Kwewakabva is also included. Andy Brown and Chiwoniso Maraire decide to form a duo and collaborate in a song called Mai Sarai Zvakanaka. Next are three former members of the Bhundu Boys — Biggie Tembo, Shakie Kangwena and David Mankaba; who enter the race with Let’s Jit-Jive, Let’s Stay Alive. There is no dispute when Leonard Dembo asks the leaders to include Chitekete. After contentious reasoning about the lack of sufficient representation of the sungura music genre, Tongai Moyo’s Samanyemba sees the light of day.
Two former Transit Crew members Munyaradzi Nyemba and Samaita Zindi also debate that there is no reggae at all among the chosen music pieces. Thus, Zimbabwean Girl becomes part of the selected titles. Last but not least, Prince Tendai Mupfurutsa, who left this earth on December 28, 2011, interrupts and says that he will not be in a position to sponsor the show unless his tune Character is included.
The controversial selection of musicians and songs and differences in opinion are finally settled when Jethro Shasha (drums), Manu Kambani (lead guitar), Jonah Sithole (guitar), Ephat Mujuru (mbira), Chris Chabuka (keyboards), Don Gumbo (bass guitar) and Pickett Chiyangwa (staccato guitar) are given roles to play instruments in the orchestra while Dorothy Masuka, Tinei Chikupo, Susan Mapfumo, Fanyana Dube, Brian Sibalo, Mr Bulk and Lovejoy Mbirimi are asked to provide the backing vocals.
It is not only in Zimbabwe where such beliefs about life after death exist. When I visited Jamaica after Peter Tosh had been murdered, Neville Garrick, Bob Marley’s graphic artist and publicist, took me to Bunny Wailer’s house to express my condolences over Tosh’s death. Wailer said to me: “Peter not dead, but him livicate. Rastaman don’t believe in nah ded. Him just pass through, seen!” I understood.
Now Tosh’s daughter, Niambe McIntosh, who was expressing her anguish and sadness over the death of Frederick Hibbert, aka Toots of the Maytals fame two weeks ago, also started imagining life after death in heaven where all these Jamaican musicians are gathered. She wrote:
“I’m thinking how when Toots reaches home and sees his friends. Oh, what a celebration it is going to be! When he walks in and says Stick It Up Mister, Peter Tosh turns around to see Toots. He’s so frightened and he says, Ooh Bombo Klaat. Dennis Brown chimes in What a Tribulation. Bob Marley says,There’s a Natural Mystic Blowing Through The Air; Joseph Hill (Culture) says, Yes It’s The International Herb. Bob Marley, again says, Got To Have Kaya Now. Frankie Paul says, Pass The Tu-sheng peng, Pass It Over. Peter Tosh says: I wish they would Legalise it while Jacob Miller says: Dread Locks Can’t Live In A Tenement Yard. Then Bob Andy says: I’ve Got To Go Back Home. Gregory Isaacs says: Sad To Know That You’re Leaving and John Holt says: Stick By Me And I Will Stick By You, while Garnet Silk starts to pray, Lord Watch Over Our Shoulders Tonight And Help Us Live Thy Words Tomorrow.”
This life is not your last. As for these musicians, they will live forever as we keep hearing their voices through all public media platforms. As I am writing this piece, I am listening to Tuku’s Ndozeza Baba which is playing in the background. Through his music, Tuku will live forever. l Feedback: [email protected]
