'Tokoloshi' album on market

tokoloshi

Remember the song Tula Bhechulude, about goblins (tokoloshis) which wreaked havoc to the people who wanted to make quick money through juju?

Well, the guys — Mangoma Express — are back with Part Three of the song that once caused a stir on the local airwaves in 1999.

Those with a sharp memory will remember when the song first became a hit among listeners with the way that the lead vocalist Cerphas Jimu imitated the "voices" of tokoloshis.

In the latest release, also titled Nyure Bude, the ugly side of witchcraft is exposed. People who get rich through the use of goblins end up leading miserable lives after everything backfires against them following their failure to follow the instructions required by the goblins.

Efforts by a businessman to dispose the goblins that make him rich through witchcraft are fruitless, and he is eventually involved in an accident, that leaves him crippled for life.

But that is not the end of it all as he is also paralysed after trying to drown them into Save River. This hammers home the message that fate always befalls those who amass ill-begotten wealth through witchcraft.

"Tofara zvedu tichituhwina mumvura muna rwizi Save!" is the bold declaration by the goblins at the end of the song.

"Through this song we were trying to educate society against the use of juju and witchcraft.

"There are real life situations involving witchcraft and we just wanted to tell people that witchcraft has no place in society.

"There are those who believe that they can earn a fortune from tokoloshis, but they always get punished. People should seek God and everything else will follow," said Jimu.

Apart from Tula Bechulude Part 3 (Nyure Bude), other songs on the six-track album include Ajimu Anabwera, Mai Joze, One Woman One Love, Chenjera Mukondombera and Nengulee. One Woman One Love advises people against having multiple partners, and it is close to Chenjera Mukondombera in the way that Jimu warns people against the reality of HIV and Aids.

In Mai Jose, the musician sings praise to a woman who is faithful to a man even when he is far away from her. Recorded at Heritage Studios and marketed and distributed by Corner Studios, the album is remarkable for its use of humour.

Born on February 4, 1967 in Rusape, Jimu first graced the music scene in 1999 with his first release Nanga Nanga Neni that carried the hit song Tula Bhechulude.

But when he went quiet concentrating on his music studies, his colleague Goodwell Chari released Tula Bhechulude Part 2 in 2003 that unfortunately failed to make a mark.