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Rutendo Kanogoiwa
MUSIC played a very critical role of boosting the freedom fighters’ morale during the liberation struggle and was also used to mobilise people to join the struggle. Musicians such as Cdes Vhu, Chinx Dickson Chingaire, Thomas Mapfumo, the late Simon Chimbetu and Steve “Donkey” Makoni and the Light Machine Gun (LMG) will always be remembered for the role they played in keeping the spirit of the revolution alive.

Their songs were a pillar of strength as they gave moral support to the freedom fighters.

Song and dance was used to educate, entertain and inform freedom fighters in the camps and the people back home during pungwes that were addressed by freedom fighters.

The songs delivered messages of social and political protest and were mostly sung during pungwes (all night gigs).

These songs emphasised the need to be united in order to defeat the common enemy which was the settler regime. It was through song and dance that the freedom fighters spelt out the objectives of the war.

Mhere yarira MuZimbabwe real name Elijah Kahwema was one of the people who started composing music during the liberation struggle.

Emoyeni, Yithi Labo, Sikhokhele Nkomo and Nyika yedu yeZimbabwe were some of the popular songs.

Various artistes continued composing songs that were also popular during the liberation struggle and these included songs such as Matiregerera mambo, Mhandu musango, Kuyaura by Thomas Mapfumo, Ndiribofu, Gunguwo by Oliver Mtukudzi and the most popular Maruza imi and Tora gidi uzvitonge sung by the liberation choir.

Music remains among the most effective ways of communicating.

Cde Chinx said music was a powerful tool that gave the freedom fighters courage to soldier on despite the many challenges they faced.

“Music kept us strong and was a constant reminder of why we were fighting,” he said.

Another Freedom fighter Stewart Moyo said music brought people together and was used to also console those who would have lost their loved ones to the struggle.