Inspired Botswana Musicians Focus on Zimbabwe | Voice of America - English
The political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe has provided Botswana performers and musicians with an unexpected source of inspiration. Artists from neighboring countries are finding musical ways of showing their support for Zimbabwe's citizens. Botswana's top 2 selling artists have released CDs containing messages of hope.
Musicians like Mzwakhe Mbuli,the late Miriam Makeba and Lucky Dube inspired millions during apartheid. It seems a similar, althoughsmaller, phenomenon is underway regarding the unfolding situation in Zimbabwe.As the country's economic and political landscape remains uncertain, increasingnumbers of artists in Botswana are singing about the fortitude and strength ofZimbabwe's people. Kwaito-kwasa star Odirile'Vee' Sento recently released a CD titled "Setimela", which meanstrain. It contains the song, "Zvichanaka" a Shona word for "Itwill be fine". The performer asks why people watch as Zimbabweans suffer.Vee muses that while life is tough in Zimbabwe now, it won't always be thatway. Hisfellow countryman and leading kwasa kwasa artist, Frank 'Franco' Lesokwane, hasdedicated his song 'Zimbabwe' to those suffering in the neighboringcountry. Franco says he's been deeplyaffected by the crisis. He's appealingto Africa to assist the troubled nation. Zimbabweans, says Franco,don't deserve to be treated with disdain or phobia. He sympathizes with thehordes of Zimbabweans who cross into neighboring countries to seek a living,only to be ridiculed. Both songs' lyrics are written in Shona. Fans say the 2tracks contain messages of hope and inspiration. Myron Nyathi, a Zimbabweanliving in Botswana, compares the current situation to the days of theliberation struggle when musicians like Chinx Chingaira and Thomas Mapfumomotivated fighters. Both Sento and Franco have performed in Zimbabwe. They hope their latestofferings will endear them to the Zimbabwean people even further.