Oliver Mtukudzi - Wenge Mambo (2001) This song is called WENGE MAMBO by the legend Dr Oliver Mtukudzi. Wenge Mambo means "You Behave Like a Chief / Behaving Like a King". It is a spiritual and polyrhythmic masterpiece from his album Bvuma. Tuku is not praising a chief here, he is WARNING us. This is one of his most critical political songs. The song refers to politicians and people in power who view themselves as 'kings'. People who think they are untouchable. In the lyrics he says "Wenge mambo... tamupa mari waramba... kunatsa muroyi, womupeyi... kumupa mwana adye... wati anoda ropa..." Meaning: You give him money, he refuses to please a witch, give him human flesh because he thirsts for blood. So the song is about GREED and EVIL. It is about people who refuse to participate in our Shona value of communal support and family responsibility you try to help them, you give them money, you give them love, but they refuse all they want is to see you down. As one fan explained: evil doers who will stoop so low as to wanting you dead you give them money they will refuse, all they want is to see you dead. The sound is haunting, hypnotic and spiritual Tuku uses the rhythmic pulse of Afro folk to turn a simple Shona idiom into an unrelenting confrontation with human malice. This is why Tuku will never die he was singing about our leaders, our jealous neighbors and our society in 2001, and it is still true today. Rest in Power Samanyanga. - @mdara.walle