Neil Katsande
2 December 2007
CHIMURENGA maestro, Thomas Mapfumo put up what some of his fans considered a rather mediocre performance in Leicester, England on Friday 23 November.
In fact, some of the fans cried "foul" after the veteran entertainer played for less than four hours.
Unlike wine which gets better with age, Mapfumo's performance was somewhat just tepid. The man is now 62, and perhaps not in the best health: he sang some of his songs seated on a chair, much to the disappointment of his fans.
A few were reminded of the last days of the legendary Congolese virtuoso, Franco, who also sat in a chair as he sang some of his hit-making tunes.
Mukanya, one of Africa's most celebrated musicians was denied entry into the UK in 2006. He was scheduled to perform at the WOMAD festival on 26 July.
At the time, Real World Records, Mapfumo's record label, confirmed he had been denied entry to the UK on a visa technicality.
But after waiting for more than a year, Mapfumo's much-starved fans were hoping for a splendid performance.
With queues stretching for almost a kilometre, touts were selling the 22 British pounds tickets for twice the amount to fans desperate to see their idol on stage.
But not everyone was disappointed. Some fans said it was the best Mapfumo show ever.
As if someone had told him to clean up his act, Mapfumo's show at Stratford Rex, London the following day could best be described as "the mother of all shows". His legion of fans were not as disappointed as they had been on the previous night. The Chimurenga maestro made up for his mediocre performance in Leicester by staging a splendid performance.
Some fans who had written him off, were mesmerised by his London performance. Peter Mugwagwa, a Mapfumo fan who had attended the Leicester show was upbeat about the London show, said of the second show; "Dr Mapfumo is still the Chimurenga king."
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