How Musamude Fumulani was rejected

For long, I have really fought the temptations to write about Black Missionaries song in Kuimba 5 called Azandigwira Dzanja. 

When Evison Matafale died in 2001, the eldest Fumulani brother Musamude took over. Shabbah as he was fondly called, never disappointed. 

While Matafale only managed two albums Kuimba 1 and 2. Musamude led the band in producing four albums, Kuimba 3, 4, 5 and 6.

It is however Kuimba 5 which is considered one of the prolific creations from the Black Missionaries and it is this track that helped the album to stand out. 

The song was a testament from Musamude as a Rastaman. He was continuously facing stereotypes for believing in the Rasta livity and befittingly so, the track is ensconced in Biblical verses from Psalm 23 and Psalm 118 verse 22 as well as Ecclesiastes 1.

At 28, Musamude died very young but he took charge of the band from 2005 until 2008 where he showed what an impressive lyricist he was. 

Considering that this composition was a declaration of a personal position, it sure would have rendered the creative facet more challenges as it would have been compromised with emotional outburst.

He however wove it in such a balance that he was both unapologetic and unassertive. He opens the track by declaring with acceptance:

N'zayenda monga mwala wokanidwa padziko la pansi

(I will walk the earth as a rejected stone)

Koma kwa Mulungu wanga ndizayenda mwachifundowo

(But I will walk with grace in my God’s presence)

He then realised that as a Rastaman people would always question his conviction so much so that he thus acknowledged:

Mawonekedwe, khalidwe ndi madyedwe anga ndicho chitsanzo cha moyo wonka muyaya wa Mulungu atatewo

(My appearances, my character and my food exemplify the everlasting life of my God, my father)

Knowing that this would still not be enough to those people that are wired to only believe what they think is right and never give others room to exercise their beliefs, Musamude told them that:

Sindizaopa nkhale nzayende mchigwa cha nthunzi waimfa sindizacheuka

(I will not fear even though I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not turn back)

Poti azandigwira dzanja, Mulunguyo ndi mfumuyoo

(Because He will hold my hand, God, the King)

The chorus is also interesting as it now emphasises on the fact that he had made peace with what he believed in and that he would tread on the path that he had chosen:

N'zayenda mchigwa cha nthunzi waimfa

(I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death)

Sindizaopa zochimwazo, Yesu zandigwira Dzanja

(I will not fear evil: Jesus will hold my hand)

Ngakhale ndiyenda mu nthunzi waimfa 

(Even though I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death)

Sindizaopa zowopyazo, Selassie I zandigwira dzanja

(I will not fear the perils: Selassie I will hold my hand)

In the second verse he compares the current world authorities to the Kingdom of God. He demonstrates that the earthly powers come and go and deprive people of their rightful acquisitions and therefore are supposed to be fought until victory is achieved.

Ufumu wadziko lapansi ndiwonamiza, Umawala, nkuzima

(Earthly kingdom is deceiving; it glows before going dark)

Koma wa Mulungu wanga uzapita muyaya eeh

(But my God’s kingdom is forever)

Utsalire m'bale wanga iwe wovutika, tizamenya nkhondo

(Don’t despair my troubled brother, we will fight on)

Mpaka umphawi uzatha, tizayimba Allelujah eeh

(Until end of poverty, we will sing Hallelujah)

Azatipatsa mphamvu ndi Mulungu wathu sazatisiya,

(He will give us strength; He is our God, won’t desert us)

Tizayimba kumwamba, ndi pansipa tikuyimba eeeh

(We will sing in heaven and so here on earth)

It is in the third verse that Musamude called on Ecclesiastes 1 where he referred to words of the preacher in the scripture and referred to human failure to withstand temptations and pander to the whims of prodding desires that are leading to the destruction of the world.

Mulaliki anati zonse nzachabe, ena akuti nzabwino

(The Preacher said all is vanity, but others say otherwise)

Koma dziko la pansi likupita ndi zilakolako

(But the world is being weighed down by human desires)

Chomwecho mayendedwe, maonekedwe anga adabwitsa wanthu

(Therefore, my character, my appearance marvel people)

Poti ndisunga tsitsi lomwe Jehova analengalo

(Because I keep hair that God gave me)

Poti ndidya zomera zomwe yehova analengazo

(Because I eat plants that God created)

Choncho dziko lapansi ndizayendabe monga mwala okanidwa

(Therefore, I will walk the earth as a rejected stone)

The month of September, precisely on September 17 is the month that Musamude died. In fact, this year is the twelfth year since his passing. This track and many that allowed him to perform in his short life tells us of a man who was an embodiment of creativity.