Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Richmore Tera
19 March 2008
Harare — LIBERATION war singer Cde Chinx remains committed to revolutionary songs, though the war of Chimurenga ended 28 years ago.
To appreciate this, one has to simply take a look at the catalogue of albums he has released in his lifelong career dating from pre- to post-independent Zimbabwe.
To a large extent, his music taps from the agonies, hopes and experiences of the liberation fighters suffering on the battlefront, sung together with the masses.
His latest 12-track album Chimurenga Series showcases the vintage Chinx at his usual best.
On it, the musician sings passionately about matters close to his heart -- patriotism, discipline and anti-imperialistic slogans -- all sung with his sight unflinchingly set on his national flag.
On Kune Nzira Dzemasoja, Cde Chinx revisits the maxim coined by legendary revolutionary Mao Tse Tang that revolutionary fighters are the fish while the masses are the water.
Discipline is described as the golden rule that should never be broken under whatever circumstance.
"Kune nzira dzemasoja dzekuzvibata nadzo, ngatitaurei zvine tsika nevanhu, ndiko kuti vanzwisise zvakananga musangano," he sings on the song, that is receiving ample airplay on the airwaves. Moyo Wangu Watsidza Kufira Zimbabwe is self-revelatory.
A patriot is committed to safeguarding his or her birthright, the land.
What makes the song relevant to the present situation is that Zimbabwe is currently under siege from alien forces bent on wresting land from its rightful owners, Zimbabweans.
Chema carries this message further but this time the musician takes a look at the time when colonialists dispossessed Africans of their land.
Other tracks on the album include Ruzhinji, which reminds the povo that power is in their hands and if abused can lead to disastrous consequences, and Vanhu Vese VemuAfrica, which he remixed and is carried on one of his previous projects, among others.
Cde Chinx's other songs that carry fiery revolutionary messages composed during and after the struggle include Maruza Vapambepfumi, Rusununguko muZimbabwe and Vanhu Vese VemuAfrica. Because of his revolutionary stance, Cde Chinx has also become a permanent feature at national galas.
Born Dickson Chingaira in 1955 in Rusape, Cde Chinx joined the liberation war and in no time had distinguished himself as a gifted music composer and singer by leading the armed choir.
After the war, he went on to release a string of albums.
His song, Vanhu Vese VemuAfrica was voted the Silver Jubilee Award for the Most Inspiring Song of the Liberation War during the 2005 Zimbabwe Music Awards.
A year later, he was awarded with a Silver Jubilee Award during the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA).
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