Zimbabwe songs struggle to be heard

Thomas Mapfumo feels safer in the USA

Artists and cultural workers in the African republic of Zimbabwe fear that they may find themselves in trouble if their performance or artwork suggests criticism of the government.

Speaking to BBC World Service's Arts In Action programme, journalist Thomas Deve spoke of the role the country's music is playing in the weeks leading up to Zimbabwe's presidential election.

"We are in a situation where music is used for political opposition and certain messages are left to various audiences to interpret the music," he said.

"There is self-censorship among the DJs where they feel that if they promote a certain type of music officially they will be told that this is not the line to promote at the moment."

Airplay

With the March election fast approaching, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is currently campaigning to be re-elected.

However, international pressure on Zimbabwe has grown as human rights groups have warned of a "climate of fear and terror" in the run-up to the elections.

Although there have been reports of journalists who have been targeted for their critical judgement of the government, Deve explains that "there is no official position on banning music from radio stations".

Mugabe has passed a law ensuring greater control of the independent media

However in his view, music in Zimbabwe is currently not without its constrictions and this may explain the proliferation of gospel music in the Zimbabwe music charts.

"Some gospel music is very critical of the status quo and has some serious social commentary, but because it is gospel music nobody focuses on it the way they would if it was Thomas Mapfumo."

There is a biting in my stomach when I see what they've done to my country

Thomas Mapfumo

Meanwhile playwright Andrew Whaley reiterated Deve's fears for Zimbabwean artists.

He said: "Imaginative theatre about people's lives and circumstances is a lot more difficult because of the risks on the lives involved in telling it like it is."

Freedom song

This is not the first time in the country's history that performers have used their art to express their opinion.

"There is a biting in my stomach when I see what they've done to my country," Zimbabwean recording star Thomas Mapfumo once sang.

Now residing in the United States, Mapfumo's songs and the songs of other artists, such as Oliver Mtukudzi, have become the focal points of political expression in Zimbabwe in recent years.

Oliver Mtukudzi: Inspiring opposition to the government

The musical style, known as Chimurenga, meaning "struggle", was spawned during the fight for liberation from whites-only rule in the 1970s, but it is now being turned against President Mugabe.

At a recent performance of Mtukudzi's hit song Wasakara, audiences chanted opposition slogans and waved red cards, indicating that it was time for Mugabe to go.

Such a reception demonstrates why some artists now feel that it is time to leave Zimbabwe.

One performer recently said: "Maybe it's time I took a holiday, let everybody cool down."