Antony Chawagarira
HARARE – The sudden death of businessman Wicknell Chivayo has cast uncertainty over a highly anticipated weekend entertainment programme that was expected to feature Chimurenga music legend Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo.
Mapfumo, who returned to Zimbabwe this week after years in the United States, had confirmed that he was coming home to perform at musician Jah Prayzah’s wedding and at Chivayo’s birthday celebrations under a deal publicly reported to be worth US$1 million.
However, following Chivayo’s death in a helicopter crash in the Marondera area on Wednesday, questions are now being raised over whether the planned engagements will proceed as originally arranged.
The veteran musician had repeatedly described his return as a professional engagement, famously saying, “Ndezvebasa izvi” — this is work — after confirming that he would perform at the two functions.
The arrangement followed Chivayo’s public pledge to pay Mapfumo US$500 000 for each of the two performances. Mapfumo subsequently accepted the offer and confirmed that he would return to Zimbabwe for the engagements.
Mapfumo arrived in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, September 29, with reports indicating that his first official engagement was expected shortly afterwards. H-Metro had reported that the musician was booked for two high-profile events and was expected to perform at Jah Prayzah’s wedding as well as Chivayo’s birthday celebrations.
The tragedy has now changed the circumstances surrounding the arrangement.
While Mapfumo’s presence in Zimbabwe has been reported, there has been no public announcement indicating whether the financial commitment made by Chivayo will still be honoured, whether the weekend programme has been altered, or whether the performances will go ahead under a revised arrangement.
The situation is particularly significant because Chivayo was not merely associated with the proposed performances; he was the person who publicly announced the payment arrangement.
The question now doing the rounds in entertainment circles is whether Mapfumo’s “ndezvebasa” mission remains on course despite the death of the businessman who initiated and financed the deal.
Jah Prayzah’s wedding arrangements have also attracted intense public interest, although details surrounding the private ceremony have not all been publicly confirmed.
Mapfumo’s planned appearance had become one of the most talked-about elements of the wedding after Chivayo offered US$500 000 for the veteran musician to perform. The offer was later expanded into a two-show arrangement involving the birthday celebration.
For now, however, the fate of the weekend engagements remains unclear.
Neither the Mapfumo camp nor the organisers of the affected functions had, by the time of publication, publicly announced that the performances had been cancelled or confirmed that the original financial arrangements would continue following Chivayo’s death.
As Zimbabwe mourns Chivayo and the other victims of the helicopter crash, attention in entertainment circles is therefore turning to one immediate question: Will “ndezvebasa” still be business as usual this weekend, or has the tragedy brought the much-anticipated performances to an abrupt halt?
The answer is likely to emerge from the organisers and Mapfumo’s representatives as arrangements for the weekend become clearer.
