By Fidelis Manyange
“This world is not my home
I’m just a-passing through
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue
“The angels beckon me
From heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore
“Oh Lord, you know
I have no friend like you
If heaven’s not my home
Then Lord, what will I do?
“The angels beckon me
From heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore . . .”
THE above lyrics are from the classic ‘This World is not My Home’ by James Travis Reeves (August 20, 1923 -July 31, 1964), an American country and popular music singer and songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well known as a practitioner of the Nashville Sound. Known as ‘Gentleman Jim’, his songs continued to chart for years after his death in a plane crash. He is a member of both the Country Music and Texas Country Music Halls of Fame.
He died at the age of 40 in a fatal air crash.
The question has often been asked if Jim Reeves was singing about his impending death when he recorded ‘This World is not My Home’. The same has been asked of several local artistes who appear to have foretold their demise in the twilight of their lives. A few names come to mind. These include
Leonard Dembo, System Tazvida, Safirio Madzikatire, Fanyana Dube, Solomon Skuza, Marshall Munhumumwe, Paul Matavire.
That unique force within artistes makes some of them
Affectionately known as ‘Musoro Wenyoka’ by his legion of fans, Dembo died on April 9 1996. Before his demise, the ailing Dembo went into the studio to record his last album in 1995 called ‘Shiri Yakangwara’ whose five tracks include the title track ‘Shiri Yakangwara’ and the prophetic ‘Yave’.
On ‘Shiri Yakangwara’, the ‘Chitekete’ hitmaker was apparently expressing his desire for a much longer life, which unfortunately was cut short in his prime.
On the other hand, in ‘Yave’ (the Shona equivalent of Yahweh, synonymous with God) Dembo presents life as something whose control is beyond humanity, for the simple reason that human beings cannot determine when they will leave this earth or when they can fulfil their wishes and/or plans. In other words, man proposes and God disposes.
Although not a Bible puncher for the greater part of his life, Dembo appears to have become God-fearing in his last days on earth.
During his last days he became an ardent follower of Madzibaba Nzira’s sect and staged joint shows with Madzibaba Nicholas Zakaria while playing his lead guitar seated, as standing up was now torture to him.
Lamented Dembo:
“Hazvigoni kuita zvaunoda iwee, zvesee zvaunenge wakarongaa kusvikira zuva rasvikaa, zvimwe unotosiya zvakadaroo…
Hazvigoni kuita zvavanoda ivoo…
Zvinonetsa zveupenyu izvi hamaa, hazvina anogona nokugadzirira nguva iripoo.
Nyeuriro dai iripo Yave neniwo ndaigonawo kugadzirira nguva iripoo . . .”
Loosely translated, this means we can make plans but, in most cases, we do not see our plans through death, relocation or incapacitation (physically, financially or materially). Some of our plans are left unfulfilled, only to be carried to fruition by the surviving family members or the community at large.
Some of our plans, however, ‘die with us’.
Dembo also recorded another gem, ‘Ndirimudiki’, which was released posthumously in 1997. Composed a few months before he breathed his last, it carries a heart-rending message of hopelessness.
Part of the lyrics go something like this: “Ndirimudiki ndirimudiki handina nharo nemi, Inga wani munozviziwa handipo kutamba nemi, Nhowo (bonde) haireri munhu inga wani munozviziwa”.
It appears Dembo was pleading with the Creator to release from his long illness.
But Dembo was not alone.
The late Bhundu Boys bass guitarist, David Mankaba, died on June 27 1997, aged 32, due to an HIV and AIDS-related illness. Like the late American singer Freddy Mercury, British rock superstar and frontman for the band Queen who made his status public and later died from bronchial pneumonia caused by AIDS, Mankaba defied all odds by being the first local artiste to go public about his status.
Just before his demise he recorded a single ‘Bye Bye Stembi Sala Kahle’.
A highly talented musician, guitarist and pianist, Chimombe passed on October 23 1990, aged 39, is still remembered for his hit song ‘Jemedza’ released in 1992.
“Ivai mununuri wangu murwendo rwandinarwo, rwendo rweupenyu chokwadi vadzimu vangu.
“Handizive anondida neanondivenga. Ivai mununuri wangu murwendo rwandinarwo.
“Rwendo rweupenyu chokwadi vadzimu vangu.
“Ivai mutungamiri wangu murwendo rwandinarwo.
“Ini ndiri bofu chokwadi vadzimu vangu.
“Masango anorura munoaziva
Madziva anoyera munoaziva
“Cheshumba rine shumba munozviziva
“Jemedza rine makata imi munozviziva
Jemedza rine ninga munozviziva
Jemedza rine mapako imi munozviziva
“Pamudzimu ndateura panoyera
“Pamudzimu ndateura panoyera
PaGandachibvuva panoyera.”
The ‘Cecilia’ hitmaker was appartently foretelling his impending fate by appealing to his ancestors to take him safely through the sacred and terrifying journey. Jemedza and Cheshumba Mountains were rumoured to harbour lions.
On the other hand, John Chibadura’s last album was ‘Nguva Yakaoma’, which proved difficulty for him to record due to his failing health.
Lamented Chibadura: “Kana ndafa ndaenda upfumi hwangu huchadyiwa naaniko…,”John ‘Chibadura’ Nyamukoko, who died on August 4 1999, had become a household name.
In Mozambique he was so popular that he played in stadia filled to capacity, with figures of as high as 40 000 being recorded.
“In Mozambique, he was often met by former President Joaquim Chissano during his time in power and ferried to concerts by the presidential motorcade,” recalls music critic Professor Fred Zindi.
“When Chibadura released his reggae album with the song ‘Zuva Rekufa Kwangu’, I was the first DJ to play it on Radio 3 (now Power FM)’s reggae session. That Thursday night, the whole nation went into a frenzy.
“I remember asking Chibadura why he penned the song.
“Why are you predicting your own death? Are you about to die?’’ said Prof Zindi.
The late Sam Mtukudzi, son to the late Oliver Mtukudzi, before perishing in a car accident, seems to have foreseen his death as reflected in his song ‘Mweya Famba Zvakanaka’.
Sam died on March 15 2010 together with his friend Owen Chimhare, who was also his sound engineer.
Soul Muzavazi Musaka, known professionally as Soul Jah Love/Chibaba/Chigunduru, was a Zimbabwean musician credited as a pioneer of mainstream Zimdancehall. He was declared a provincial hero for his contributions to music. Among several hit singles is ‘Kana Ndafa’, with the following lyrics:
“Kana ndafa ndoda mugoziva
Ndapinda muguva
Zvimwe zvamaiudzwa aiva manyepo
Apa ndivo futi vatumira mamhepo
Vavengi, Vavengi”
The song was released a few months before his death linked to his diabetic condition .
On the global scene , Jimi Hendrix, an American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter predicted his own death in ‘The Ballad of Jimi’ with the following lyrics:
“Many things he would try for he knew soon he’d die, Now Jimi’s gone, he’s not alone / His memory still lives on,
Five years, this he said / He’s not gone, he’s just dead.”
Hendrix died exactly five years later, and yes, his legacy still lives on.
Tupac Amaru Shaku (pictured), assassinated on September 1996 at the age of 25, On Richie Rich’s song ‘N***** Done Changed,’ 2Pac raps:
“I been shot and murdered, can tell you how it happened word for word. But best believe, that n***** gon’ get what they deserve.”
Only two months later, Tupac Shakur was shot dead.
This begs the question: “Who is next to foretell his/her own death?”
