Staff Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN humanitarian musician, Anderson Mamimine is set to collaborate with the Village Pope on a track which will be part of his forthcoming project Life on Earth.
The duo met at a local hotel this week where they agreed to get into the studio in January.
The Village Pope told the Weekender that he was thrilled to be collaborating with Mamimine whom he said had shown extreme determination to improve the lives of the people around him.
Mamimine, who is battling glaucoma, only has under 7 percent sight left in his right eye and says he is currently on a world tour that will take him to Algeria, Senegal, Mali, Kenya, Trinidad and Tobago and Bulgaria where he intends to knit several collaborations with various artistes for his project.
The Village Pope told the Weekender that he was thrilled to be collaborating with Mamimine whom he said had shown extreme determination to improve the lives of the people around him.
He said he was inspired by Mamimine’s story and urged Africans to love one another.
“All I need to say to Africa is that we need each other and most of all, if you not love yourself, do not expect to love anybody,” Tshola said.
“It’s great to love but it is heavenly to be loved. So, let’s live heavenly by being loved by each other and loving each other. Africa wake up, love is the only answer.”
He said he has already listened to some of Mamimine’s tracks and hopes to have input on more than one track.
Tshola said he would find time to travel to Zimbabwe in January when he would not be too busy with shows and record with Mamimine and a few other artistes who are yet to be identified.
Mamimine said he was honoured to have attained a warm rapport from one of the remaining few granddads of Southern African music.
“It is a humbling experience. I am happy with the reception that I got from Ntate Tshepo and it gives me energy and courage to keep working,” Mamimine said.
A runner-up of the Voice of America (VOA) Africa Health Network Awards in 2013 with his album Hell on Earth, Mamimine said he is working on “a huge project with 20 volumes which will be released over a 10-year period”.
“The project will see me releasing a new volume every six months. My drive is humanitarian so I mainly work with children whose plight touches my heart. I have 11 children with whom I work on various projects to ensure that they stay off the streets and off vices like drugs. Some of the children were orphaned by the HIV and AIDS scourge so my artistic work is specifically focused on humanitarian work”
Mamimine said he lives by the late humanitarian giant Mother Theresa’s adage that “a life not lived for others is not a life”.
“I move with the plight of disadvantaged and vulnerable children of this world in my heart. I strive daily to contribute towards the development and betterment of humanity. It’s the small things that we do for one another that count and make a huge impact in life.
“The disadvantaged also deserve a beautiful world that you and I live in. It’s time for action. Be that engine that pump’s out love and pass the light to the next generation. Imagine what life on earth would be like for the future generations. Yes, one day it will be a reality if we individually possess a positive thought and a stretching hand.
“Let us love care and share. Why not a beautiful World? Mother Theresa said “A life not lived for others is not a life.” Let’s do it. They need us.”
Mamimine has previously worked with Zimbabwean superstar Oliver Mtukudzi, the late Chiwoniso Maraire, Victor Kunonga and several other on his previous projects and he said working with the Village Pope would add more weight to his humanitarian drive.
“I am delighted to have yet another special and louder positive voice after having worked with our own from the land of the best Dr Oliver Mtukudzi. It is such a great honour.
“The impact of collaborative efforts in music is astonishing and I find it astounding in humanitarian activism. It simply breaks negative artificial boundaries that hamper development in all aspects.
“Let us join voices to eradicate poverty and disease. Human pain and suffering. Let us unite for our children,” Mamimine said.
