✓ Babsy Mlangeni’s musical legacy- Babsy Mlangeni, who has died at 83,
had a career spanning almost six decades, becoming a celebrated
singer, guitarist and composer despite the barriers faced by blind
musicians in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa. His music
crossed generations, with songs such as Bua Nnete even becoming part
of the Grade 10–12 music curriculum. Beyond his music, what does
Babsy Mlangeni’s career tell us about the barriers that artists with
disabilities had to overcome, and the role he played in changing
perceptions about what blind musicians could achieve?
✓ Thomas Mapfumo and the million-dollar deal- Thomas Mapfumo was
brought back to Zimbabwe by businessman Wicknell Chivayo after
years outside the country under a reported million-dollar deal to
perform at two events. Following Chivayo’s death, Mapfumo says he
remains committed to fulfilling the agreement and performing at Jah
Prayzah’s rescheduled wedding. When a high-value agreement is
disrupted by the death of one of the parties, how should we understand
Mapfumo’s decision to honour the deal, particularly when there are
questions around contracts, obligations and the wishes of the deceased?
✓ Did you know- Zimbabwe’s changing fortunes- Zimbabwe was once
known as the breadbasket of Africa and a major tourism destination,
benefiting from its agricultural potential, natural resources and
attractions such as Victoria Falls and the Eastern Highlands. Today,
however, the country continues to grapple with the consequences of
years of economic instability.
How did Zimbabwe move from being one of the region’s strongest
agricultural and tourism economies to experiencing such prolonged
economic difficulties, and what would need to change for the country to
reverse that trajectory?