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Protest
musician launched internet radio on Zimbabwe Independence Day
Harriet
Chigege
May 07, 2008
Listen to Voto
Radio Station
Defiant Zimbabwean
protest singer Viomak, Robert Matibili's musical critic with
three protest music albums to her name has found another effective
way of evading censorship. Her genre of music (political gospel)
is banned in Zimbabwe and suffers total censorship unlike some of
the censored musicians who suffer partial censorship. Although her
music is heavily censored, her website is a hive of activity that
is loaded with enough catchy information that justify the various
themes of her music. The singer affectionately known to some of
her fans as sister Viomak, Sis Vee or mhamha (mother) is one singer
who is determined to turn the musical situation in Zimbabwe in a
different positive direction when she says, "Music soothes
the mind thus in these trying times appropriate music is the best
therapy".
Voto
Radio Station
On the 18th
of April 1980, Zimbabwe gained its independence from its former
colony Britain, and on the same day and month Voto radio launched
its station to mainly focus on the importance of freedom of musical
expression, in a country where opposing voices are severely oppressed.
Whilst Zanu pf celebrated this day in their usual monotonous style
well known to many, the crew behind Voto celebrated the day in a
unique way. The birth of Voto (Voices of the Oppressed), internet
radio station on the 18 April 2008, is a great step forward in that
all those Zimbabwean protest artists whose work is banned now have
another effective platform where they can musically voice their
concerns without fearing anything . This is really a great achievement
in the sense that even Matibili himself now has the chance to listen
to his dedications whenever he wishes. The project which was spearheaded
by Viomak and her manager is set to remind Zimbabweans of the Voice
of Zimbabwe radio which was beamed from Maputo, Mozambique. A very
popular radio station during Zimbabwe's chimurenga war, the
station was used by Zanu to educate, mobilize, and recruit the masses.
During the same period Zapu's People's Voice radio was
broadcast from Dar es Salaam, Lusaka, Cairo and on radio Moscow.
The Voice of Zimbabwe included such programs as The Chimurenga request
program which was dedicated to those involved in the struggle. During
that period Dorothy Masuka, Dr Thomas Mapfumo and ex combatant Cde
Chinx Chingaira were popular revolutionary musicians. The songs
that were played in these programs boosted the morale of the fighters,
motivated and inspired others to take action, thus in Viomak‘s
words, "in those trying times music was the best therapy.
When utilized appropriately music can be a massive weapon during
a struggle for emancipation since it keeps the oppressed informed
and entertained. Songs of struggle are therefore a source of inspiration
and hope".
On a similar
style and purpose, Voto radio broadcasts worldwide, courtesy of
the internet. Matibili who at one time had a wild dream of banning
the internet in an effort to censor his critics put the plan on
hold after the idea hit a hard rock. Even though internet censorship
has become a major global problem as I read the other day, I don't
think Matibili and his cronies have the resources or the know how
to filter what the internet offers. Of course it was once assumed
that states can not control internet communications but according
to a research by the OpenNet Initiative, more than twenty -five
countries now engage in internet censorship practices. The good
news is that Zimbabwe is not yet an expert on these issues. Societies
with the most effective internet censorship policies usually block
access to websites that are deemed undesirable or threatening .In
case Matibili chooses to dream once again, he might have to consult
countries like Burma, Tunisia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Iran to see
how he can use commercial filtering software so he can silence his
critics, many of whom have resorted to using the internet to showcase
their disgruntled voices.
However, the
good president will now hear protest artists chant their touchy
messages at the click of a banner. One can only imagine the expression
on the good president's face in case he listens to Viomak's
song, ‘Zimbabwe mudumbu reZanu PF(Zimbabwe in Zanu PF's
belly). This song reminds Zimbabweans that they have a responsibility
to do something about their situation and encourages all armchair
critics to act in whatever way possible. She doesn't forget
to remind Matibili that Zimbabwe does not belong to Zanupf but it
belongs to all Zimbabweans.
"I'm
convinced the music will now reach many of it's intended audience
including Zanupf‘s new Chinotimba, UnBright Matonga"
said Viomak.
Asked how the idea of
coming up with an internet radio came into being, Viomak explained
that generally there is an acute blackout on Zimbabwe protest music
be it in Zimbabwe or outside thus promoting it is the best way forward
. She also thinks that another reason for the blackout is that Zimbabweans
are generally politically handicapped, reluctant to actively participate
in political activities and many of them will tell you that they
are not interested in politics without realizing that everything
in this world is political. To eat it's politics, to go to
school it's politics, to sleep it's politics, to smile
it's politics, to cry it's politics, to starve it's
politics, thus politics is life and life is politics. So anything
political they generally view it as not so important. Why then are
many Zimbabweans not interested in their well being which is the
politics of their lives? She blames fear and ignorance.
In light of this, Voto
is calling all interested Zimbabwe protest artists to come forward
and be part of this important project. She also says that instead
of protest artists crying foul over the banning of their music and
other protest art, they should uncensor themselves by coming up
with ways of making themselves heard. She also states that some
musicians are singing about some funny, meaningless and empty themes
forgetting that they have a responsibility to speak for everybody,
and they continue to ignore the fact that there are a lot of great
songs that can be born out of the times that Zimbabwe is faced with
now.
Since protest art in
Zimbabwe is banned from state radio the setting up of an internet
radio that features such artistry is a breath of fresh air. By giving
free exposure to protest artists who are suffering discrimination
and oppression of their voices and views under Matibili's
regime, I'm sure many Zimbabweans will soon realise the importance
of political activism. Like a few other censored musicians Viomak
has to find ways of marketing her music and spreading her political
gospel. She is not the only one who has to hunt for ways to uncensor
herself. Other protest artists in a similar situation have had to
travel to neighbouring countries to promote their protest work.
"With time Voto
radio will strive to educate some Zimbabweans on their political
responsibilities which include their right to be heard. Other programs
in the pipeline include Prayers for Zimbabwe where political gospel
music will take centre stage" she said.
Viomak who believes that
the social conscience is slowly losing value in the Zimbabwean music
industry says she is very pleased that the internet is not affected
by POSA and AIPPA, Zanu pf‘s oppressive laws that make it
unlawful for anyone to speak against Mugabe's bad governance.Listening
to Voto radio , I am convinced that if the handful of protest musicians
featured on this station were Zanu pf ‘patriotic musicians'
their music would definitely grace Zimbabwe state radio airwaves
day in day out. With songs sung by Zanu pf ‘patriotic'
singers riding high on the political charts in Zimbabwe why wouldn't
protest music by ‘unpatriotic musicians' be instant
hits.
Asked to comment on this
Viomak said, "Zanu pf's ‘patriotic musicians'
can sing like birds but as long as they sing for the wrong reasons,
to me their music is filled with air, and they will remain as unpatriotic
and worthless as the masters they are singing for."
This leaves me with questions
only Matibili should answer honestly. In Zimbabwe who is the patriotic
musician? Is it the musician who sings to defend or support the
leadership of a bad president or is it Viomak and the rest of other
censored musicians who sing to despise the leadership of such a
president and come up with ways of assisting the suffering masses
exploited by the ‘Good' president as in Viomak's
case? My English dictionary tells me that a patriotic person is
someone who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and
its interests with devotion, whilst an unpatriotic person is someone
who shows a lack of love for his/her country. How then does singing
to defend a bad president make a musician patriotic? Anyway, it
is very commendable that Viomak has decided to offer her fellow
counterparts free airplay and promotion in a world where making
money makes more sense than anything else.
The
challenges
Her musical
career has come with loads of challenges. On 24 November 2007, Viomak
was interviewed by Pamela Stitch of African loft on the Story of
political gospel, and when asked if she had faced any challenges
in her brand of music. She responded,
"Very big challenges.
I live on verbal insults mainly from Zanu pf supporters, praises
and salutations from my dedicated fans. Some Zimbabwean newspapers
are not eager to write my stories for fear of reprisals. Some Zimbabwean
internet radio stations are not eager to play my music for the same
reason. My music is banned in Zimbabwe. Some people don't
buy my music cause they fear for their lives. Most of those who
buy the music play it secretly. My music is the first of its kind
and a few others don't like my idea of mixing gospel with
politics. So my music is very controversial but the good thing is
I have more fans than enemies."
What then is the purpose
of continuing to sing if you face all these challenges? I asked
Viomak.
"You keep hoping
that one day God will help us change the situation in Zimbabwe.
Hope gives us the zeal to move on until we achieve our goals."
She is very hopeful that
God will answer her prayers as in her lyrics. In an interview with
BBC she also mentioned that she was hopeful God answers prayers.Viomak
who is always insisting without hesitation that Rhodesia under Smith
was far much better than Zimbabwe under Matibili emphasized the
same view in the BBC interview.
As if the setbacks
she faces are not enough, Viomak also explained to me how her cd's
and cassettes are at times sold unclenched or labelled particularly
in Zimbabwe, so they won't be noticed by her enemies.An idea
that doesn't go down well with some few buyers who are not
used to seeing such kind of music packaging. Her manager also explained
how he had tried in vain to place adverts in the Herald newspaper
to market her first two albums. The adverts which were later accepted
by independent newspapers, the Zimbabwe Standard and the Zimbabwe
independent caused havoc after some suspicious men called him endlessly
asking if they could meet up with him. The men later visited and
threatened one Toendepi Shonhe a political activist who had personally
offered to sell the music from his offices in Harare.
These are just
a handful of the drawbacks and challenges that Viomak faces as a
censored musician. Now that the goal of setting up an internet radio
station has been achieved what is now left is to work on it so that
it becomes a bigger project that will rise from being an internet
radio to an actual radio station that rises above the ground. Zimbabwe
protest artists are encouraged to get in touch at voto@viomakcharitymusic.com
or votoradio@yahoo.com
Upcoming
projects
Moving with
the times, her website
now boasts of a whole lot of free ringtones .Viomak who just finished
doing the groundwork of her 10 track standby album ‘Happy
Deathday President R.G. Mugabe-Matibili (Death is certain) to be
released at the end of Matibili's time, is now working on
her fourth album, Happy 85th Birthday President R.G Matibili (Little
Tiny Dot). The title of which was inspired by Matibili's speech
in which he referred to the prime minister of Britain Gordon Brown
as a tiny little dot on this world, is due for release on 21 February
2009 as per her tradition. Tracks on the album include ‘Gukurahundi',
a song that chronicles what transpired during that controversial
time in Zimbabwe's history and ‘Operation
Mavhoterapapi', a song that moans the torture and beatings
that Zimbabweans experienced after they placed their votes in front
of the ‘wrong' face during the so called harmonized
elections on 29 March 2008.
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