Bad Omen –Freshlyground’s concert in Harare on October 1st cancelled. Read more
September 14, 2010
The South African band Freshlyground, well known since they delivered “Waka Waka”, the official song for the last FIFA World Cup in South Africa, is banned from Zimbabwe and can not enter the country.
The authorities have withdrawn the work permits of the band, for a concert they would give this coming October 1st in the capital Harare, because of the just-released song “Chicken To Change” in which the Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is being ridiculed.
Especially the music video for the song went down the wrong way with the Zimbabwean authorities according to manager Sarah Barnett. The clip was made by the people behind SA News, a South African variant of the political puppet show Spitting Image.
In the videoclip a latex doll reads the “Bob’s Times” while being escorted in a limousine through the ruined streets of Harare…clearly Old Bob was not amused.
Lyrics ‘Zvingashure’ (Bad Omen) by James Chimombe and the O.K. Success
Fellows, you have let me down
You have seen and allowed me
To spend all my money on women
Now the cold has come
I have no jacket, no jersey, no blanket
My friend, buy a blanket
But how can I buy one?
I have no more money left
I am unemployed, there is no way out
Had I known I can help
The married are wise
They have somebody to advise them
That is true
James Chimombe & The O.K. Success -Zvingashure
Probably this reportage on street children in Harare, Zimbabwe was banned by Robert Mugabe as well.
From BAFTA-winning director Jezza Neumann and BAFTA-winning producer, Xoliswa Sithole, a powerful tale unfolds of the gaping chasm between what these children hope for and what their country can currently provide.
A loss of opportunity.
