The Day They Banned Toyi Toyi
I write from my third office at the moment: Book Cafe. In the pounding, Harare heart of the Avenues. Dotted around at tables are aspiring hip hop artists planning a show and opposition politician Fay Chung having coffee. Harare's alternative reality. Where art thrives and radical thoughts are encouraged. They even have my album on sale here. And on their notice board an article entitled 'Zim Artist Targets Mugabe' with a photo of me next to it. Unfree Harare expressing itself freely.
We toyi toyi'd the day that toyi toyi was banned. Our album launch coincided with the banning of the popular urban militant dance. But as we launched House Of Hunger to a capacity crowd at Mannenberg Jazz Club on 13th March we toyi toyi'd through the night. Inciting people to dance militantly. Unleashing Zimbabwe's most revolutionary album since Thomas Mapfumo in the 70's. The House of Hunger is now a reality.
In a land where the airwaves are controlled and even our concert adverts get banned you have to be creative with distributing the word. MAGAMBA! comrades are running around Harare as part of our 10-pronged album distribution strategy that has seen the album distibuted to:
1. The Internet. My shamwari Roddy is uploading it onto zimaudio.com so that it will be internationally available.
2. Shows. The album is for sale at all our shows.
3. Flea markets. We have a distribution deal with the cd stalls and pirate cd hustlers at Avondale fleamarket and other fleamarkets will follow
4. Record stores. We await feedback from the major record stores
5. Kombis and Taxis. Next week our street team will get the cd into kombis plying all major township routes.
6. Clubs and Bars. The album has been given to DJs at most of Harare's top clubs and bars
7. Township shopping centres. Next week the album goes out to township shops to be played
8. Book Cafe and Manneberg. The album is being played at Book Cafe and Mannenberg and is on sale there.
9. Democratic forces. The album will be distributed next week to all key forces in the struggle.
10. Press. The album has gone out to at least a dozen local and international press agencies, ranging from ZBC to Kaya FM Jo'burg. The House of Hunger is out now. A nail in the coffin of oppression. A dance beat to the joyous heart. Get it now!
