‘Colonialists, you have lost’: Zimbabweans spark debate in UK
· The South African
A video showing Zimbabweans singing a liberation song in Shona on the London Underground has sparked a heated debate on social media.
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The group can be seen singing together on a train, with the song carrying a message directed at colonialists.
The performance has attracted attention because of its setting, with the Zimbabweans singing about colonialism while surrounded by passengers in London.
The song includes the phrase “maruza imi vapambepfumi”, which carries the meaning that the colonialists or exploiters have lost.
Liberation songs have a long history in Zimbabwe, where music was used to express resistance to colonial rule and celebrate the country’s struggle for independence.
Zimbabweans defend London Tube performance
The video has divided opinion, with some social media users defending the group and arguing that the song should be understood within its historical context.
One commenter, Farai Keith, wrote: “This is simply a liberation song. Doesn’t the USA celebrate independence? Have you ever condemned them?”
Another user, Prince RK Mhlanga, took a different view, accusing the singers of behaving like the people they criticise.
“It’s so surprising to see you behave like the very Israel you criticise day in and day out,” he wrote, while also questioning the message of the song.
The discussion has also focused on whether the people in the video were Zimbabwean musicians visiting Britain.
Tembelani Sibanda claimed that the people featured had travelled to the UK and had since returned to Zimbabwe, although this detail has not been independently verified.
‘Imperialists get angry’
Other commenters argued that the reaction to the video reflected the continuing sensitivity surrounding Britain’s colonial history in Africa.
One user, Sharp, wrote: “These guys are too lazy to sustain a drawn out conquest. The country is nearly bankrupt. So once their benos run dry, so will they.”
Another commenter, Thalex, responded: “The only thing holding them back from being our lunch meat, is our respect for law and order.”
Those comments themselves generated further debate, with some users arguing that the conversation had moved beyond the original video into broader arguments about colonialism, migration and race.
One particularly inflammatory response described Africans using racist language.
Rather than focusing on that comment, the wider reaction demonstrates how quickly the short video has become a flashpoint for discussions about Britain’s colonial past and modern African migration.
Zimbabweans’ liberation song in a very different setting
For many Zimbabweans, songs from the liberation era remain an important part of the country’s cultural memory.
The timing and location of the performance have nevertheless made it particularly striking.
A song associated with Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle was being sung in the heart of the former colonial power, while commuters appeared to carry on with their journeys.
The video has therefore prompted a much bigger conversation than the performance itself, with social media users debating colonialism, Zimbabwean identity, migration and whether liberation songs still have a place in modern Britain.
Foreigners from Zimbabwe on a London tube signing in their language to unaware British people “You colonialists have lost.”
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Any message for them? pic.twitter.com/OYdzKUEfur