Takawira ‘Photoveteran’ Dapi ZimNow Correspondent
Zimbabwe’s upcoming Heroes Day has received a musical tribute from none other than the country’s self-styled rumba musicologist, Dr. Bitumba.
The 56-year-old artist, born Wellington Maruta, launched a new song and music video titled Inovakwa Nevene Vayo on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The track celebrates both the fallen and living heroes and heroines of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
Backed by his 13-member Congolese-influenced band Musique D’Afrique—formerly known as Lubumbashi Stars from the DRC—Dr. Bitumba blends Zimbabwean storytelling with infectious Rumba rhythms.
“This is not just a song. It’s a narrative,” said Dr. Bitumba. “It tells the journey of a war veteran—what drove them to cross borders for military training, and what it meant to return and fight for independence.”
The song doesn’t stop at history. It’s also a call to action for the younger generation.
“Our youth must know the sacrifices made for their freedom. But more importantly, they must now take ownership of the country’s development. This is their Zimbabwe to build,” he said.
Inspired by Personal History
Dr. Bitumba’s connection to the liberation struggle isn’t just academic. As a young boy, he served as a mujibha (war collaborator) in the Rutunga area of Chirumhanzu.
“That experience never left me. I always felt the story of what inspired freedom fighters needed to be told—deeply and musically. Not just slogans, but soul,” he said.
The track was recorded at Sam Cross Studios and produced by veteran sound engineer Samson Gwanzura.
A Music Career Rooted in Education and Pan-African Sounds
Before turning full-time to music, Dr. Bitumba taught music, arts, and culture at Morgan Zintec College. In 2014, he transitioned into a government role as a Principal Manpower Development Officer under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education—while also ramping up his music career.
Since then, he’s released nine albums, including
His band Musique D’Afrique features five instrumentalists, three vocalists, and four dancers. Their blend of Rumba and Passada has taken them beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, with performances in Botswana and Mozambique.
“Passada music resonates across Southern Africa. It’s rhythmic, celebratory, and deeply rooted in shared African stories,” Dr. Bitumba said.
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