Those of us who were born in the seventies, were born in the reign of pop star and king "Michael Jackson". His albums were hot sellers in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) too. Those were the days of "records". My own father who is still recovering from a terrible stroke managed to "speak to me about" M.J's death, when I called him this afternoon.The influence that M .J had cannot be under estimated whether you hated him or loved him.Its hard to remember a time when there was no M.J. From a young age he would inspire, and entertained millions around the world for half a century.Jackson who was born in Gary Indiana (two hrs away from where i am) destroyed racial boundaries that separated cultures and ethnic groups in America and around the world through his music.
For me growing up in the eighties, his signature performance was when he and other American musicians sang for charities in Africa. They composed a song, "We are the world, we are the children" To this day I can still sing that song word for word. In my class at Inzwananzi Primary school, every six grader had a song book. "We are the world" was number one in every body's song book.We were all crazy about the song. We knew who sang which part. From Lionel Richie to Deon Warwick. The song had a positive message that we connected to and identified with.
I still remember how one of the kids in my neighbor hood transformed himself to a Michael Jackson look alike. His clothes were all customized to look exactly like the MJ on stage. To this day I cannot remember this guys real name because we called his "Michael Jackson". He walked like M.J dancing on stage.His hair style was permed.He was so thin and wore tight black pants (trousers) and a white shirt.His shoes were sharp pointed.He also wore some snow white globes in each of his hands. Everything about him resembled the man Michael Jackson.Most people who lived in New Lobengula and the surrounding areas must know man I am talking about.Actually I think his real name was Zhila. Most of us who never saw Michael Jackson in person, "Zhila" is the only closest image we will ever have of the pop star.
In 1989 I visited my mother's family in Chief Sigola area. I was surprised to see a young boy wearing a Michael Jackson tee shirt.Deep down in a village that isolated and seemingly forgotten from the rest of the civilized world. Guess what! Michael Jackson"s image was there! The world lost a great entertainer, and a fine human being. People everywhere were touched by his death even as they touched by his life.
