Hosiah Chipanga denies that 'he is mad'

MUSICIAN Hosiah Chipanga says he has been labelled a madman on several occasions because of his weird ideas and unpredictable activities.

The Mutare-based musician claims he is never offended by such brutal sentiments since he sees himself as far ahead of this generation in terms of vision and philosophy.

When people call him mad, Chipanga calls them intellectual minnows.

In his critics, Chipanga sees a pathetic lack of understanding of simple issues that shape humanity and the future.

"I view things with a spiritual eye and that is why most people do not understand the simple things that I address in my music and messages," Chipanga said.

Ironically, it is his judgment of "simple issues" that has often exposed him to scrutiny.

For instance, he describes himself as both a spirit medium and a prophet - he sees nothing contradictory in that description.

Instead, he reckons that "perceived" contradiction belongs to this world and not his uppermost spiritual realm.

Before this year's harmonised elections, Chipanga told NewsDay he would turn his church Messiah's Apostolic Prophetic Inspired People's Institute (Mapipi) into a political party in his bid to contest the presidential race.

The bid apparently flopped for the second time because he could not get enough seconders.

Yesterday, Chipanga claimed he had resumed converting members to his church, adding politicians saw him as a competitor yet he just wanted to assist them with ideas from the uppermost spiritual world.

"Most people think I am mad. I have gone to the high political offices with my ideas, but they just dismiss me like an insane man. But I will not budge because I have a lot I know that is hidden from the living."

The confusion underlying most of his claims and decisions seem to make him a complex character that has attracted the "madman" tag.

Chipanga is well known for claiming that blessings were going to Whites because Blacks pray and conduct their church services in English.

Prior to this "philosophy", his band was called The Broadway Sounds and he changed the name to Vaparidzi Veshoko in line with his new way of thinking.

When he finally decided to form his own church to help people claim blessings in their language as he had pointed out, he gave the church an English name ' a lengthy and complex one.

Chipanga told NewsDay that his shrine was not easily accessible because worshipping God is about endurance.

"You can come and we go together to the shrine, but you have to be very strong. It is a rough terrain and you have to bring sports shoes for the mountain climb."

It is for this shrine that Chipanga has resumed converting members.

It is also at this shrine that he operates as a self-proclaimed spirit medium and prophet.

The traits and themes of his music have always shown the complex character in Chipanga.

In one of his songs Baba Nkomo, Chipanga claims the dead approach him for answers to unique occurrences on earth.

He even boasts knowing and communicating with Mbuya Nehanda and Chaminuka.

Although he comes up with insightful subjects and innovative lyrics, Chipanga could be one artiste whom, like the late writer Dambudzo Marechera, might not be easily understood.