Mzekezeke mocks Mugabe

First published in The Standard, March 2006

MASKED controversial South African kwaito musician, Mzekezeke, has lampooned President Robert Mugabe, including him in a long list of individuals he says could be the face behind his mask.
In his track Ubani Umzekezeke (Who is Mzekezeke?) from his latest album, Ama B.E.E, the masked musician sings: "Abanye bathi u Sbu ngu Mzekezeke… (Some say South African YFM DJ Sbu Leope is Mzekezeke) …" and then goes "…What about uMugabe for Mzekezeke?"
The list of "Mzekezekes" also includes disgraced former South African Vice President, Jacob Zuma, American President George Bush, Osama Bin Laden and some controversial musicians - all dead - such as black American rapper Tupac and Brenda Fassie.
"That is Mzekezeke for you," said a South African musician who has worked closely with Mzekezeke and requested anonymity in a telephone interview. "It would be futile for anyone to seriously consider his rants, because I tell you, you never win against him. It is his habit to poke fun at celebrities of all sorts, musicians, journalists and politicians, just about anyone."
In June last year, another Kwaito star, Zola (real name Bonginkosi Dlamini) was reported to have interrupted his show in the UK and told Zimbabweans that "Mugabe has destroyed that country, and it troubles me deeply. Sometimes you wish you had a solution to a people's crisis, like the one you have."
Another renowned kwaito producer, DJ Cleo, was also reported to have made damning comments about Mugabe to a South African radio station.
US rap star, Nas, also chides Mugabe in Damien Marley's plug track Road to Zion, blaming him for "holding guns against innocent citizens".
Although neither Mzekezeke, management nor any of the artistes at his TS Records stable was immediately available for comment, the opening remarks on their website could explain his usage of Mugabe and other big names in his music.
"We live by the philosophy of constantly offering music that will always resonate and strike the cord with abantu base kassie (people from the ghetto)," says the website.
Since bursting onto the scene a couple of years ago, Mzekezeke - who performed in Harare and Bulawayo in August - has caused a stir and left many wondering who he really is. Many names have been linked to the masked musician, including YFM's DJ and TS Records co-owner, Sbu Leope, who tops the list.
Although the song tries to add to the confusion of who Mzekezeke really is, a blunder in TS Records' official website all but confirms Mzekezeke as DJ Sbu.
On the website, Manando, a member of Mzekezeke's backing group Izinyoka is referred to as a younger brother to both Sbu and Mzekezeke.
The same website says Mzekezeke's real name is Zakhele Nkumane, who was born in 1982 "Nge April Fool's Day". Before venturing into music, says the website, Mzekezeke was 'selling ama-vegetables.'"
Ama B.E.E is Mzekezeke's fourth album after 2002/2003 SAMA song of the year S'guqa ngamadolo, which earned him the Artist of the Year title. He won the same accolades the following year with Istorotoro. His 2004 release, Izinyoka was well appreciated although it did not win a major award.
The title track is about the South African government's Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) programme.