Miezi michache iliyopita
msanii mzaliwa wa Denmark
aliyekulia Tanzanai, Espen Sørensen ambaye anafahamika zaidi kwa jina la
Mzungu Kichaa alikua Denmark kwao katika tour ndefu pamoja na bendi
yake kutoka
Tanzania.
Baada ya concert ya mwisho kufanyika na kesho yake ilikuwa siku yake
ya kuzaliwa ndipo yalipomsibu na kunusurika kifo yeye pamoja na bendi yake, but
God still loves them waliponea chupu chupu, hebu soma mwenyewe true story yake.
Haya ni maelezo ya Mzungu Kichaa mwenyewe ya nini
kilichotokea:
“I have wanted to write this note for a very long time, but
haven’t found the courage to do so. I haven’t communicated online since my
birthday on the 5th of August. I simply haven’t felt that I had anything worth
writing, not even a thank you for all the many greetings on my birthday. I hope
that when I tell you this story you will understand why I have been quiet, and
hopefully I will be able to connect with you all again.
We were performing our last concert on Fyn in Denmark at a
festival called Hesbjerg. We were the last act on stage and the crowd was on
fire. Doing the last concert on a long tour is very emotional as the band
becomes tighter than ever and the anticipation of it being the last show of an
intense tour creates a special energy on stage. I was playing with my band from
Tanzania, with Abdallah Membe on drums, Kevin Mpangala on bass, Shabani Rashid
Shabani on Keys and Dulla Mnanga on percussion. We have been playing together
since the end of 2009, with three tours to Europe and concerts in Uganda, Kenya
and Tanzania. What they have given my performance is indescribable. I remember
looking at then band, and recall Kevin the bass player was smoking... His body
heat from all the dancing, coupled with the stage-lights created a steaming
smoke.
We did our extra number after the crowd had been cheering
for at least ten minutes. We were tired, but went on stage and gave it all we
had. We had performed earlier that same evening in another part of the country.
At this point it was almost five in the morning. We loaded the drums and the
backline as quickly as possible, while I tried to get some coffee from the
kitchen. This was a challenge as most of the people in charge were either drunk
or stoned. But a few guys realised that it had been me up on the stage and
suddenly anything was possible.
We were driving a VW Passat Station car with a trailer. We
had been renting a bus, but had extended the tour by a week and had to make
adjustments for the last week. I had to drive, as there was no room for a
driver. As we left Hesbjerg forest it was still dark. Dulla kept putting the
music louder and opening the windows so that I would stay awake. Everyone else
in the car was sleeping. After driving for about an hour, the sun started
rising. The motorway was empty except for the Cargo trucks. When we were about
30 minutes from my parent’s farm I told Dulla to sleep, as I would manage it
from there. I was wrong. I suddenly woke up and realised that I was overtaking
a massive lorry and was inches from its wheels. I swerved away and all the
passengers woke as the car was swerving from side to side. Miraculously I
managed to straighten the car and the trailer and pass the lorry.
The first thing that went through my mind was my music: all
the things that I still had to achieve; my new songs that were being mixed in
Denmark during my tour; my fans and family. But above all I thought about my
band that were in the car, and had travelled with me all the way from Tanzania.
It was a tragedy that almost happened. I don't know what it was that woke me
up, but it made me realise that life is truly fragile.
When I arrived at my parent’s farm at seven in the morning,
I walked around the farm and took in all the memories of my childhood. It was
my birthday after all, and I wanted to celebrate that I was alive.
I would like to thank you all for believing in me and for
celebrating my birthday on the 5th of August. Now that I have told you the
story that has changed my life I hope we can continue to communicate. I will be
sharing my new music with you very soon.
Pamoja always!
Mzungu Kichaa”