By Blessing Vava
Controversial but talented lead guitarist Andy Brown surprised a handful of fans who attended his show at Mannenburg yesterday, Sunday 17 July by calling for Chimurenga Music legend Thomas Mapfumo to come back home.
Andy Brown, a resident musician at the popular pub every Sunday while on stage shouted, ‘’Chishuvo changu ndechekuti Mukanya vadzoke kumusha (my wish is for Mukanya to return home).’’ The visibly drunk Brown went further to say that he is praying everyday for Mkanya’s return.
- Andy Brown
On Mukanya’s return Brown said that he missed the Chimurenga legend whom he says he is arguably the best ever musician to grace this land. ”Mukanya should come back home and teach the youngsters how to play our traditional music, said Brown.
Thomas Mapfumo went into exile in the US in 2004, and has been staying there ever since. Ironically, Mukanya has been bold enough to sing openly against Mugabe’s misrule while Andy Brown was amongst the leading group of artistes used by Jonathan Moyo to parrot ZANU PF’s messages during the so-called Third Chimurenga.
Brown was slotted for Sunday’s shows at the club but he has failed to attract revellers as evidenced by yesterday’s low attendance. The guitarist’s fan base dwindled in recent years mostly because of his heavy involvement in politics. Yesterday’s show at Mannernburg was attended by only eleven people, most of whom are resident artistes at the Book Café forcing the talented musician to play a few songs.
He defended his position of playing few songs because of the low attendance. An official at the joint expressed sadness at the way Brown has been coming late for shows intoxicated with the holy waters. ‘’Andy is not serious he is always late for shows and at times he will be heavily drunk to the extent of shouting obscenities on stage.’’
After his involvement in the ZANU PF propaganda bandwagon fans and promoters started shunning his shows forcing him to go underground.
