Zimbabwe: Reggae Fever Grips Harare

Stanley Kwenda
Harare

JAMAICAN reggae icon Luciano touched down at Harare International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, dispelling doubts which had been surrounding his hugely ancticipated tour, first reported by The Weekend Gazette.

"People thought it was an April fool's hoax, but there was no-one who wanted to fool anyone," said a Zimbabwe Tourism Authority official.

Clad in green military fatigues with several 'decorations', his most trusted lieutenant Mickey General in tow, the reggae "Messenger" as he prefers to call himself, coolly negotiated his way through Immigration. At first he looked bemused by the huge army of journalists who instantly mobbed him looking first for a photo opportunity before even asking questions. Being the international icon that he is, he gladly gave everyone an opportunity before taking a few questions from journalists.

"I am in Zimbabwe on a mission I have come to spread the message, the ministry of Jah, coming to Zimbabwe is like coming home, this is more like Jamaica, the people, the smiles and everything," said Luciano in typical reggae fashion.

Luciano's trip to Zimbabwe has over the past weeks been shrouded in controversy with different signals being given by the ZTA, which finally brought him into the country. At one time the Authority indicated that it had pulled out of the deal to bring the Jamaican artist only to make hasty invitations to the media to cover his arrival. Harare International Airport came to a standstill as the "Messenger" made his way into the building. The entire airport, particularly the main arrival lobby was a sea of red, black, white, yellow and red as fans braced for the arrival of the reggae master.

"Is he still coming or we have been lied to?" asked a fan who had brought his entire family to the airport to welcome Luciano.

This was after the South African Airways flight from Johannesburg had arrived with no sign of the Jamaican artist.

There were various versions of how to extend greetings reggae style on display. And at once I felt the spirit getting the better of me. Emotions ran high, with journalists running up and down seeking to get the scoop, while airport security men were torn between having a photo taken with Luciano and responding to the call of duty.

The reggae icon was given royal treatment with businessman Phillip Chiyangwa chipping in with courtesy transport, which took Luciano from the airport to a Harare hotel. Chiyangwa's sons drove the artiste in a yellow Hummer with personalised number plates.

Some motorists rushing to the airport were left bemused by the long convoy of cars and simply opted to give way fearing the unknown. Many probably thought it was the President coming from the airport.

Thereafter, a press conference was held and excitement was still high. A group of tourists had to give way to the "Messenger." A red carpet was rolled out in his honour.

"Luciano is coming as a visitor, friend and artist. He is a messenger who has a message to the people of Zimbabwe. He is here for the annual Jacaranda festival which celebrates sustainable development through tourism," said a top ZTA official.

"We had given our friends in the commercial sector the right to bring Luciano but they failed dismally and as government we had to intervene. We have brought the great son of the soil."

The tour of the Jamaican artist however had its fair share of controversy. It took two hours for the artist to be cleared through immigration and at the same time Nhamo Chitimbe of Shumba Instrumentation who claimed to have secured the deal alleged that he had been sidelined.

He said, "ZTA should do what they want but I am not a politician, I don't have political power but I didn't do this for individuals but for the people of Zimbabwe. I know Luciano personally as a friend and I don't know him as a businessperson. He came without his band because he wants this mess sorted out first," said Chitimbe before he was interrupted by a phone call from Caveman in Jamaica. Caveman is a close associate of Luciano.

Luciano said he was in Zimbabwe to give the people strength to prevail through the hardships.

"We have always wanted to come to Zimbabwe especially after Bob Marley sang about Zimbabwe. We are messengers we are here to give the people strength. We are coming to Zimbabwe at a crucial time because you need inspiration," said Luciano.

He is the fourth high profile reggae artist to visit Zimbabwe after Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Freddie McGregor who visited in the 1980's.