Clive Malunga
Clive Malunga is an award winning Zimbabwean musician who rose to prominence in the New Millennium with hits such as 'Rudhiya' and 'Nesango'. The latter whose video was said to be one of the most expensive to be produced locally, won him a National Arts Merit Awards.
Background
Malunga is his totem (Shiri, Hungwe, Matapatira, Masarirambi, Chatibwege). His real surname is Antonio. Clive Malunga's father came from Mozambique, a town called Villa Zumbo. He is of the Chikunda tribe.
Malunga was born at a farm called Valley or Kingsdale Farm, some five kilometres from the town of Norton. Both his late mother and father were domestic workers at Kingsdale Farm. Malunga worked very hard to run away from the environment in which he grew up in by trying to be a soccer player, but he settled for music as a career.[1] He is a former liberation war fighter.
Age
Malunga was born on November 25, 1960.[1]
Education
Clive Malunga did his primary school education at St Eric’s in Norton.[1] He holds a a diploma in Marketing from the London Centre of Marketing (LCM) and in 2012 started pursuing a business degree with the same institution.[2]
Music career
He started music in 1985 and released a vinyl single called Marimba Jive. The single did not do well.[1]
Malunga became popular in the 1990s with his hits such as 'Rudhiya' and 'Nesango'. The latter was a masterpiece and its video was voted the best video on ZTV's Top 30 videos of the year charts in 1997. It was this song that put him in the spotlight and the video which included some of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) forces during their routine drills, was said to be one of the most expensive videos to be produced locally.[3] He had earlier in 1999 released 'Marijata' which featured jazz sensation Prudence Katomeni on lead vocals. In 1992, Malunga also founded the Jenaguru Arts and Culture Centre to nature aspiring artists in Bulawayo. He automatically became the director of the centre and helped to produce artists such as Sandra Ndebele.[4] From there Malunga never looked back and he became one of the first artists to produce a DVD album. In 2002, he released a collection of his video clips from 1997 to 2002. In 2012 he took a break from music as he concentrated on his degree but promised to bounce in music after completing his studies.[5]Malunga has produced over nine albums.
In 1992 Malunga and Jenaguru launched the first Jenaguru Music Festival at the Harare Gardens which was a success. In 1993, they moved the Jenaguru Music Festival to Gwanzura Stadium. The last festival was staged at the National Sports Stadium and they invited musical groups from the United States, Egypt, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and South Africa.
Jenaguru Arts Centre started doing cultural exchange programmes in Japan in 2002. Clive Malunga and Jenaguru were also invited to perform in South Korea, on a music school cultural exchange programme. In 2020, they cancelled their tour to South Korea, Taiwan and Japan because of Covid-19.[1]
Protest Lyrics
His music has often triggered debate with the media alleging that some of his songs are against the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF). One of the songs is 'Zambuko' (crossing bridge) from his 2001 album 'Sauramba'. In the song, the musician urges people to unite and cross the bridge together advising them to leave behind this 'one man' who was causing all the suffering. In another song, 'Zizi NaNhengure', Malunga idiomatically puts it that little Nhengure has now exploded the myth that Zizi (owl) has horns, which the media alleged to be a clear reference to ZANU PF and the then newly-formed opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).[6]
Violence against media
The award winning artist made headlines through his reputation of assaulting journalists. In 2000, he assaulted a radio DJ, Malachi Nkomo, accusing him of not playing his music. The following year he assaulted the then Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) editor Shepherd Mutamba. He reportedly barged into the newsroom and verbally abused Mutamba, accusing him of failing to cover the event of a donation Malunga made to a Harare-based children's home. Malunga also slapped the victim once on the face in front of other journalists. He was later arrested and pleaded guilty to the offence.[7]
Awards
The video to his hit 'Nesango' won a NAMA in the best video of the year in 2002.
Discography
Malunga has nine albums which includes:
- Sauramba Version (2008)
- Vamudhara
- Zizi naNhengure
- Mukwasha
- Zambuko
- Ndiwe[8]
- Chinungu Chandionza
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 FREEMAN MAKOPA, Malunga opens up on life, career, NewsDay, Published: October 10, 2020, Retrieved: January 7, 2022
- ↑ Do artistes need education?, 'Weeekend Post',Published: 14 Apr 2012, Retrieved: 9 Apr 2014
- ↑ High Beam, 'Hits Collection' Great Video From Malunga, 'Herald', Published: 7 Oct 2002, Retrieved: 9 Apr 2014
- ↑ Clive Malunga, Letter for President Mugabe, 'Zimbabwe Independent', Published: 17 Qct 2003, Retrieved: 9 Apr 2014
- ↑ Do artistes need education?, 'Weeekend Post', Published: 14 Apr 2012, Retrieved: 9 Apr 2014
- ↑ DN, Zanu PF's rise and fall through music, 'DailyNews', Published: 10 Dec 2012, retrieved: 9 Apr 2014
- ↑ Musician slaps editor, 'Media Institute of Southern Africa', Published: 24 Oct 2001, Retrieved: 9 Apr 2014
- ↑ SM,CLIVE MALUNGA, 'Stern Music', Published: ND, Retrieved: 9 Apr 2014
