MUGABE BANS FRESHLYGROUND OVER 'CHICKEN' SONG

South African music group Freshlyground have had their working visas revoked by Zimbabwe's Immigration Department after the release of their song "Chicken to Change" which mocks president Robert Mugabe. The band was due to perform at an event in the capital of Harare next month.

Freshlyground is made up of South Africans, Zimbabweans and Mozambicans and has a broad pan African following.

They recently launched the song with a music video in collaboration with cartoonist Zapiro and Thierry Cassuto, creators of ZA News, the satirical news programme that features 'Spitting Images' styled latex puppets.

Hailing Mugabe as a supernova full of promise when he led the country out of repression in 1980, the song goes on to condemn him for not living up to that promise, urging him to "become the hero he used to be" by relinquishing power.

"You promised always to open the doors for us. Indeed it is you and only you who sleeps with the key. You are chicken to change," lead singer Zolani Mahola sings.

In the video Mugabe, in a puff of feathers, transforms into a poultry version of his former self in the back of his presidential limo.

Writing for The Telegraph, Aislinn Laing explains that although the rooster is a symbol of Mugabe's Zanu-PF,  the chicken has become emblematic of poverty in Zimbabwe. Fowl were sometimes given in return for change when spiralling inflation meant that basic foodstuffs were often bought for several billion Zimbabwean dollars.

Cassuto says the song is not a protest song as much as it is an appeal to Mugabe's conscience. "It's a pity that Freshlyground have had their permits cancelled because they are popular in Zimbabwe. What kind of a threat does this song really represent?"

A Zimbabwean man was arrested and jailed recently for calling the ageing president a wrinkly old man.

Posted on Sep 11, 2010 by Africartoons