Zimbabwean Artists Release Song And Video To Mourn Victims Of Devastating Cyclone Freddy

By Wallace Mawire

Zimbabwean musical artists under  the leadership of an upcoming musician Emmanuel Chakanyuka have released a song and video titled:Pepani Malawi to mourn and raise awareness for victims of the devastating Cyclone Freddy which hit the Southern African region  in March 2023.

Chakanyuka  grew up in a village called Bhareni under Headman Munyaradzi in Gutu District which is in Masvingo province in Zimbabwe.

HeI went to Munyaradzi  Primary School in 1983 and joined Dewure High school in 1989 before enrolling as a student teacher at Marymount Teacher’s college in Mutare in 1996.

“Thereafter I went through different courses to sharpen my teaching and music performing skills. I taught music in several primary schools, High schools, teacher's colleges, Universities both in and outside Zimbabwe” Chakanyuka said.

He said that his  musical journey started at primary school level where he  was a model tenor vocalist in the school choir.

He also  learnt how to play a guitar from other villagers who played home made four string guitars before perfecting the guitar skills at Marymount teachers college in the hands of a  Mr Tauringana Smango who is now the Principal of the college.

Inspired by many musicians domestic and international, Emmanuel who is now using the stage name, “Mr Chacks” learnt how to write ,arrange and compose songs.

His strength is in guitar work which is also the back-borne of his compositions.

He also  had a five year stint in Malawi where he  was a music teacher at Kalibu Academy in Blantyre.

In Blantyre he  learnt how to speak Chichewa that he is  using in some of his songs including the song , ‘’Pepani aMalawi”.

He also got inspired by the brotherly love he  witnessed in Malawi where he learnt the importance of philanthropic work.

He says that Covid-19 taught him another lesson that life can change any time and that natural disasters are here on earth to stay.

He  wrote and composed the song , “Pepani aMalawi” and decided to collaborate its production and performance with other local musicians to solidify the message of unity, Ubuntu and also to give the song a hybridized flavour.

“The song would not have sounded the way it is now if I had done it alone. What moved me to write the song was the fact that most of the people around here in Zimbabwe were not talking about the Cyclone Freddy a sign that they were not in the picture of what had happened in Malawi,’ Chakanyuka said.

He also says that he  used the guitar work which he  had composed during the days  he  was still in Malawi.

He says that the guitar melody did not have lyrics yet to make it a complete song but when the Idea to say sorry to Malawians came to his  mind it became a complete song.

According to Chakanyuka, the main reason for coming up with the  song was mainly for philanthropic purposes.

He adds that the song is meant to stir people’s hearts across the globe to help Malawi rebuilt from the destruction caused by Cyclone Freddy.

He says that it is also a warning to other countries in the  Southern Africa region that if disaster strikes your neighbour chances are high that you are the next victim (Chawana munzako chapita mawa chilipaiwe) as translated here in Chichewa language.

Chakanyuka says that he personally funded the production of the song and video.

He also  thanked  the Embassy of Malawi in Zimbabwe for providing some of the information that was required from the events in Malawi as well as allowing them  to use their flag and premise to shoot the video of the song.

He adds that the participating musicians wish to visit Malawi and raise funds to build at least one house for the affected communities especially in a district called Chiladzulu.

Chakanyuka says that Cyclone Freddy brought an untold suffering in many Southern African countries especially Malawi and Mozambique.

He says that many people were left homeless , buildings and roads destroyed , several people lost their lives while many  went missing .

On the song , ‘Pepani aMalawi(Pole kwenu waMalawi)”  musicians who  featured include  Trust Chipisa, Gift Chipisa, Pax Gomo and Sylvester Bungu (Mr Spoxx),

The song was written , composed and arranged by Emmanuel Chakanyuka (Mr Chacks) on rhythm  guitar, Emmanuel Chakanyuka  on lead guitar, Trust Chipisa on bass guitar, Gift Chipisa on drums, Gift Chipisa on keyboards, Emmanuel Chakanyuka on lead vocals, Emmanuel Chakanyuka, Gift Chipisa Pax Gomo Sylvester Bungu (Mr Spoxx) backing vocals.

Emmanuel Chakanyuka, Chenai Nyakarare, Margaret Chakanyuka also featured in poetry including   Professor Nqobile Malinga. The music and video was recorded at T & C Records produced by Emmanuel Chakanyuka.

Cyclone Freddy  killed more than 60 people and injured dozens in Malawi and Mozambique as it slammed into Southern Africa., according to initial reports by AL Jazeera news site.

Freddy is one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere and could be the longest-lasting tropical one, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

According to the news site,Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera  had noted with grave concern the devastation that Cyclone Freddy  brought to most districts of the country and declared a state of disaster in the Southern region.

Other media reports indicated that the devastating Tropical Cyclone Freddy had ripped through southern Africa in a rare second landfall and initially  killed at least 216 people in Malawi and Mozambique and the  death toll rose.

Heavy rains that triggered floods and mudslides have killed hundreds of people in Malawi.

President Lazarus Chakwera declared a "state of disaster" in the country's southern region and the now-ravaged commercial capital, Blantyre.

Some 19,000 people in the south of the nation have been displaced, according to Malawi's disaster management directorate.