Music and Truth

Like other artists with vision who have applied critical analysis to current events, looking toward the future, Mzwakhe Mbuli has paid a high price for speaking out. Currently the price includes his freedom and even his access to communication.

The best way to get an understanding of the scope of issues and controversies Mzwakhe Mbuli has explored with his music is to listen to it, until he is released from prison and the added dimension of live performance again becomes available. The music of Mzwakhe Mbuli is readily available internationally in well stocked African music sections of major vendors. Albums available internationally include Change is Pain, Resistance is Defence, KwaZulu Natal, and uMzwakhe Ubonga uJehova. Unbroken Spirit was available only outside South Africa. Afrika and Izigi were only available in South Africa and are now out of print. However, a new album was released in 1999 on EMI/CCP, Greatest Hits/Born Free But Always in Chains, including four tracks recorded from Pretoria Prison as well as some of the best pieces from the earlier albums. Included among them is the particularly memorable "Peace Prize," which Mzwakhe performed on the occasion of a celebration in a South African church of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

If Greatest Hits: Born Free But Always in Chains is not available in your area, your music store can order it from the distributor, or you can order it online from Amazon Books at http://www.amazon.com. At the time of Mzwakhe's trial, the album was selling at the rate of 5,000 per day in South Africa, and of course it went gold like his others very quickly.

Mzwakhe has also participated in collaborative efforts such as Peter Gabriel's AIDS album and a South African compilation, Only the Poor Man Feel It, which is widely available.

Mzwakhe Mbuli composes his own music and uses it as a backdrop for his poetry, which ranges in style from traditional to utterly modern. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice has characterized his style as "avant-trad," and you can view a Christgau article on Mzwakhe, Culture Hero on this website on the page of the same name.

Mzwakhe has said that most of his poetry is a call to action. Consequently his music is not simply entertainment but also involves messages of empowerment and encouragement for taking action or thinking more deeply about important things that are taken for granted, as is the case with the poems, Our Music and Freedom Puzzle.

OUR MUSIC ~ Mzwakhe Mbuli

Our music is traditional
Our music is inspirational
Our music is spiritual
Our music is therapeutic
Our music is rich and soul uplifting

Our music is our culture
Our music is our entertainment
Our music is our heritage
Our music is our identity
Our music is our pride
Our music is rich and soul uplifting

We accord solemn tribute to our martyrs through our music
We praise and worship through our music
We celebrate significant historic events through our music
We send our messages through our music
We communicate through our music
Yes, our music is rich, real, sweet and soul uplifting

I talk about traditional songs and dance
I talk about wedding songs and love
I talk about freedom songs and Chimurenga*
I talk about healing songs and spiritual power
I talk about songs of war and victory
Indeed, our music is rich, real, sweet and soul uplifting

Africa is ours
Africa Day is ours
This continent is ours
The only continent in the world
That is shaped like a question mark

The only continent in the world
That is shaped like a question mark

Indeed, our music is rich, real, sweet and soul uplifting

(* Chimurenga is the Shona word for the armed struggle of Zimbabwean freedom fighters in Rhodesia.)

FREEDOM PUZZLE ~ Mzwakhe Mbuli

Is freedom a puzzle? Is freedom a quiz?
What is freedom? And what is the meaning of freedom?
To Nonsikelelo Biko, the meaning is different.
To Helen Suzman, the meaning is different.
To ex-freedom fighters, the meaning is different.
What is freedom? And what is the meaning of freedom?
To KwaZulu/Natali people, the meaning is different
To black and white people, the meaning is different
To those living in tin shacks, the meaning is different
What is freedom? And what is the meaning of freedom?

To the bosses and farmers, the meaning is different
To the rich and poor, the meaning is different
To the homeless, jobless, miners and workers, the meaning is different
What is freedom? And what is the meaning of freedom?

Is freedom a puzzle? Is freedom a quiz?
What is freedom? And what is the meaning of freedom?
To the SABC and M-Net, the meaning is different
To Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola, the meaning is different
To the Star and Sowetan newspapers, the meaning is different

Is freedom a puzzle? Is freedom a quiz?
What is freedom? And what is the meaning of freedom?

Perhaps freedom is like a jigsaw puzzle
Perhaps freedom is like a mirage
Perhaps freedom is wealth for the chosen few
Perhaps freedom is mixed Parliament and freedom of speech
Perhaps freedom is building bridges where there are no rivers
Perhaps freedom is the Truth Commission against the long arm of the law
Perhaps freedom is economic power and the continuation of toyi-toyi
Perhaps freedom is death of apartheid and the establishment of a new order

Is freedom a puzzle? Is freedom a quiz?
What is freedom, and what is the meaning of freedom?

Feel free to share these poems. Please tell community radio hosts in your area to play the music of Mzwakhe Mbuli, and please tell people about Mzwakhe's situation and ask them to visit this site to sign the Petition.)