IT was on August 15, 1942, in Majakatira village, Chief
Chatongoza in Chiwundura communal lands, Midlands, when a baby boy was born
after only seven months in its mother’s womb. His birth did not bring with it
much joy, as he was a premature baby with a tiny body filled with little energy
that made it difficult for one to carry him in the arms.
Extra care and additional clothing was needed to carry him.
Back in that village, babies born prematurely were regarded
as misfortune that would bring catastrophe to the community. Culture and tradition had it that the baby should be cast
out of the village.
Village elders were then seized with responsibility of
casting away that baby, but were supposed to convene a meeting to decide on how
to dispose of the baby.
The village elders’ decision was final, according to the
village’s traditional and cultural laws.
As fate would have it, a few weeks into his birth, Joseph
Mechanic Manyeruke got seriously sick.
His illness seems to have sent a message to the village
elders that the ancestors were not happy and they must cast away the premature
baby as soon as possible or misfortunes would befall their village.
Without wasting time, a meeting was convened. One elderly woman was tasked to mould a big clay pot
(“gate” in Shona) in which the baby was to be bundled in before being dumped on
the banks of a nearby river.
His mother, Hakuna, was not informed of the village elders’
decision, neither was his father, Magundani. Sad!
On the fateful day when Mechanic was supposed to be cast
away from the village, elders also convened a meeting and proceeded to the
Manyeruke homestead.
No one to this day has an explanation as to how the gospel
singer’s father, who was not at home that particular time, got word of the
village elders’ resolution and that they were at his homestead to take away the
“misfortune” from the village.
This is the sad story of the life of legendary gospel
singer Baba Mechanic Manyeruke as he narrated it to The Herald on Saturday
Lifestyle this week.
“My mother told me that she suddenly saw my father arriving
moments before I was bundled into the big clay pot. They wanted to take me to
the river where I was to be washed away.
“I was told of how my father stood firm, telling the
villagers that there was no one who was supposed to touch or think of taking me
anywhere.
“On that day, my mother told me, I was so sick that she
could not feel my heartbeat. This was despite the fact that I was slowly breathing.
“I was told how my father strongly warned people who had
come to take me away that if they dare touched me, someone was going to face
the music,” said Baba Manyeruke, as he found comfort on a sofa at his
Chitungwiza house.
The village elders later left their homestead letting his
parents nurse him until he regained his health.
Interestingly, Baba Manyeruke captured his true story on
the track “Vakandichengeta Mai” from the album “Dzokororo” released last year.
But for him it was not yet over. It then came a time to name the baby.
Baba Manyeruke had a brother called Nkathazo who made and
repaired metal pots and cups. He loved and was so passionate about his job to the extent
of preferring to be called by the moniker, Makanika.
Nkathazo then grabbed an opportunity to show the world how
much he loved his job and came with a suggestion to name his younger brother
Makanika.
“It was how the name Mechanic came about. My father named
me Joseph and Nkathazo came with Makanika. “It was the nurses at the hospital who wrongly spelt the
name and wrote Mechanic on the birth registration forms but it was supposed to
be Makanika in Shona.”
As he grew up, the name Mechanic became more popular. “It appears people were keen on giving me names from my
birth and do you know how the Baba came about?
“I was referred to as Baba Manyeruke on the first day I
stepped at RBC (Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation) now ZBC. I had gone to
record my first song “Mukoma Udzai Mai Kuti Ndaroora” after being called by
producer Steven Kavhayi.
“That song was the only track that I did, which is not
gospel. The youngster referred to me as Mudhara Meks, meaning elder. Then they
began calling me Baba Manyeruke,” he recalled.
Baba Manyeruke’s life seems to have been characterised by
hurdles as he grew up.
He started working at Lyons Zimbabwe as a general hand
before going to work as a gardener in the leafy suburbs of Borrowdale and
Vainona for years up until he became an established singer.
Although he is a role model to many and a celebrity to
others, he feels all is not yet okay with him.
Without mentioning how he has been let down by people who
had promised him a top of the range car — Jaguar XF — Baba Manyeruke has
nothing much to show off for his fame, besides his house along Mandela Road in
Chitungwiza.
He does not own any other business as his life solely
revolved on music.
On Thursday morning, when The Herald on Saturday Lifestyle
visited him at his house, he was pre-occupied with his car — a Nissan Terrano —
which he was thoroughly cleaning, preparing to sell it.
Baba Manyeruke wants to sell the Nissan Terrano to raise
money to purchase roofing materials for the house he is building in Chiundura,
Masvingo.
He has been failing to raise the money for quite some time
and selling the car is the only option left for him.
The renowned singer is married to Hellenah Manyeruke, who
was also busy with laundry when we arrived at their house.
Mai Manyeruke also told of how she and her friends called
Baba Manyeruke Mr Two Dollars after he gave her a $2 note in the Harare Gardens
when they were on a date.
0 comments:
Post a Comment