Thomas Mapfumo was born in 1945 in Marondera, Zimbabwe. He sang with vario… Read Full Bio ↴Thomas Mapfumo was born in 1945 in Marondera, Zimbabwe. He sang with various bands including The Zutu Brothers, Hallelujah Chicken Run Band and the Acid Band before forming The Blacks Unlimited when he and Jonah Sithole merged their bands in 1977.

The band developed a style called chimurenga music, meaning "(revolutionary) struggle" - a highly politicised electrification of traditional Shona mbira music, with lyrics railing against the colonial government in Rhodesia and, later, against Mugabe.

Mapfumo now lives in exile in the United States.

Kuenda Mbire
Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire kuda kwako here
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire baba vemwana
kuenda mbire

Kuenda mbire washereketa here
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire handichagona
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire mukondombera here
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waroyiwa here
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire handichagona
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire kuda kwaMwari
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire mukondombera here
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire handichagona
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
kuenda mbire kuda kwako here
Kuenda mbire
kuenda mbire mukondombera here
Kuenda mbire
kuenda mbire waroyiwa here
Kuenda mbire
kuenda mbire kuda kwaMwari
Kuenda mbire
kuenda mbire handichakuona
Kuenda mbire
kuenda mbire baba vemwana
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire mukondombera here
Kuenda mbire
kuenda mbire kuda kwako here
Kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire handichakuona
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire mukondombera here
Kuenda mbire
kuenda mbire waroyiwa here
Kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire
Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire

Kuenda mbire waenda chose
kuenda mbire

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Kuenda Mbire" by Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited are in Shona language, one of the major languages spoken in Zimbabwe. The chorus "Kuenda mbire waenda chose" means "To go to Mbire, you have to go". The song speaks about the importance of going to Mbire, which is a district in Zimbabwe renowned for its spiritual and cultural significance. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the significance of this journey, which is considered necessary to connect with God and one's ancestors. The song talks about the challenges faced in the journey but emphasizes the importance of completing it despite the difficulties.

The song also mentions the role of fathers in the journey, as seen in the line "Kuenda mbire baba vemwana" which means "Fathers and children going to Mbire". This line speaks to the importance of family and community in this journey. The line "Kuenda mbire kuda kwaMwari" means "Going to Mbire is the desire of God", which shows the spiritual significance of the journey.

Overall, the song "Kuenda Mbire" by Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited celebrates the spiritual and cultural importance of the journey to Mbire in Zimbabwe and highlights the significance of family and community in this journey.

Line by Line Meaning

Kuenda mbire waenda chose
Traveling to Mbire, you have a choice

kuenda mbire
Going to Mbire

Kuenda mbire kuda kwako here
Do you want to go to Mbire?

Kuenda mbire baba vemwana
Go to Mbire, father of the child

Kuenda mbire washereketa here
Are you hesitating to go to Mbire?

Kuenda mbire handichagona
I am not tired of going to Mbire

Kuenda mbire mukondombera here
Are you using a walking stick to go to Mbire?

Kuenda mbire waroyiwa here
Have you been bewitched on the way to Mbire?

Kuenda mbire kuda kwaMwari
God wants you to go to Mbire

Kuenda mbire handichakuona
I haven't seen enough of Mbire

Kuenda mbire waenda chose
Traveling to Mbire, you have a choice