Interview with Zivai (Guitarist, Singer and Writer) and Tendai (Drums)
The songs that you sing - are they traditional or do you write them yourselves?
T - They are a combination. Some are traditional, like the second song which explains our country's liberation from war. But others are written by Zivai - the encore is called 'Anchera' which means 'I no longer want'. It's all about someone who works very hard for his whole life - for his family, and now he's saying I can't do it any more. At the end of the month, when he's been working and he's been paid and then the money's not enough, then I don't know what do to. So the singer is pleading with the government - people are not getting enough jobs or money when they are working so they are complaining - when am I going to be relieved - when is it my turn? I'm working hard but I can't get enough money.
This is reflective of the times we live in. Our country is a war-torn country, things have been turned upside down. There are not enough jobs for people, the government doesn't have enough jobs but those who are going to work are earning so little because the inflation rate has gone so high that it's not even enough to buy bread. This song gives me the feeling of a peasant in despair - someone who's suicidal.
When did you move to the UK ?
Z -2003. I was coming from America - I as playing in Thomas Mapfumo's band. Then I left the band and came over to the UK and started this band
Did you know each other before you came over here?
T -We are almost boys from the capital. We are very close - like neighbours over in Zimbabwe - some of the guys were already over herre - I came over in 2001.
Why did you come over here?
T - Honestly speaking to you, there is nothing back home. Nothing. It's like taking a professor and dumping him in the desert, what would you do? Here is a democratic country, and you can say whatever you want to say and it can be heard. Where we come from, they say it's a democratic country but it isn't - anything can happen to you - you can die for speaking your mind.
Z - So but makes us feel free over here in the UK - we believe that there are equal human rights here which it's the opposite in Zimbabwe - if you say exactly what is happening, you can die.
The song that you just described, 'I've Had Enough', if you sang that back home, what would happen?
T - You would probably be prosecuted or killed.
Do you go back at all?
Z - No. we've still got family back there but we'll go back when things change. We can't go back now.
Do you all live in Wigan, Lancashire ?
T - No, I live in Luton , almost all my friends live in Manchester so I'll go soon and live there. I've got a family in Luton so maybe later on I'll move but right now I can travel - I've got a car - and I don't want my baby girl to change school right now. When things work out well, then I'll move up there.
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