Opinion / Columnist
About Chicken to change? The Freshlyground vs Mugabe video
05 May 2014 at 09:52hrs | Views
Even without an explanation given it is fact that South African pop group Freshly Ground was deported from Zimbabwe on Sunday because of their video Chicken to Change which mocks 90 year old President Robert Mugabe to retire from his 34 year presidency.
What is it about the video that really irks Zimbabwe and particularly president Mugabe about?
The video, Chicken to Change, depicts an aloof Mugabe riding in the back of a chauffeur driven presidential car and reading a newspaper, "Bob's Times", with the front page headline: "Glorious victory for Zanu-PF". It cuts to Freshlyground singing in a shebeen, dancing like chickens and challenging Africa's oldest leader to relinquish his more than 30 year grip on power.
At first lead singer Zolani Mahola pays tribute to the 90 year-old veteran's part in the struggle for Zimbabwe's independence, describing him as a "supernova". Her lyrics continue: "An iridescent example of honour for the coming generation/ 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!"
Mugabe's car comes to a sudden halt and some chicken feathers flutter in front of the windscreen. He looks out at an impoverished couple clutching chickens, but chooses to ignore them and drive on. At the end of the video, the Mugabe puppet transforms into a chicken with suit and spectacles intact.
The video also features puppets of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu playing dominoes, polygamous president Jacob Zuma of South Africa flirting with women, former SA president Thabo Mbeki and other leading South African figures.
The puppets in the video were designed by Jonathan Shapiro, alias Zapiro, a South African political cartoonist and was directed by Thierry Cassuto, executive producer of satirical internet show ZA News. It was filmed in Cape Town with the band dressed in Zimbabwean-style 80s fashion.
Freshlyground's seven members are a racial mix hailing from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Sarah Barnett, a spokeswoman for the group, once said they "believe in freedom of speech and that people should be able to talk about topics that affect many civilians".
On the video Barnett said: "The video is not an attack on Mugabe at all. It is a tongue in cheek challenge for him to reflect on things and become the hero he used to be, to consider his actions and surprise us. We are not afraid of his reaction. Why should we be in a democratic world?"
President Mugabe is not well known for a good sense of humour particularly on issues that seem to lampoon or criticise his leadership. So for Freshlyground it must lesson learnt, you don't joke around about President Mugabe and think you will be appreciated in Zimbabwe, you will be thrown out.
What is it about the video that really irks Zimbabwe and particularly president Mugabe about?
The video, Chicken to Change, depicts an aloof Mugabe riding in the back of a chauffeur driven presidential car and reading a newspaper, "Bob's Times", with the front page headline: "Glorious victory for Zanu-PF". It cuts to Freshlyground singing in a shebeen, dancing like chickens and challenging Africa's oldest leader to relinquish his more than 30 year grip on power.
At first lead singer Zolani Mahola pays tribute to the 90 year-old veteran's part in the struggle for Zimbabwe's independence, describing him as a "supernova". Her lyrics continue: "An iridescent example of honour for the coming generation/ 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!"
Mugabe's car comes to a sudden halt and some chicken feathers flutter in front of the windscreen. He looks out at an impoverished couple clutching chickens, but chooses to ignore them and drive on. At the end of the video, the Mugabe puppet transforms into a chicken with suit and spectacles intact.
The puppets in the video were designed by Jonathan Shapiro, alias Zapiro, a South African political cartoonist and was directed by Thierry Cassuto, executive producer of satirical internet show ZA News. It was filmed in Cape Town with the band dressed in Zimbabwean-style 80s fashion.
Freshlyground's seven members are a racial mix hailing from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Sarah Barnett, a spokeswoman for the group, once said they "believe in freedom of speech and that people should be able to talk about topics that affect many civilians".
On the video Barnett said: "The video is not an attack on Mugabe at all. It is a tongue in cheek challenge for him to reflect on things and become the hero he used to be, to consider his actions and surprise us. We are not afraid of his reaction. Why should we be in a democratic world?"
President Mugabe is not well known for a good sense of humour particularly on issues that seem to lampoon or criticise his leadership. So for Freshlyground it must lesson learnt, you don't joke around about President Mugabe and think you will be appreciated in Zimbabwe, you will be thrown out.
Source - Byo24News
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