South African Mugabe chicken jibe pop group banned from Zimbabwe gigs

A South African pop group who performed the World Cup anthem with Shakira have been banned from playing in Zimbabwe - after depicting Robert Mugabe as a chicken. Freshlyground, who recorded the offical tournament song Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), were not told why Zimbabwe revoked their work permits.

But their singer Zolani Mahola thinks it has something to do with their video for song Chicken To Change, which features on their latest album. It shows President Mugabe cruising in his limousine, uncaring of people's suffering until Zolani sings for change in Zimbabwe and the Mugabe puppet transforms into a cowering chicken.



Ridiculing Mugabe is illegal in Zimbabwe. Disrespectful gestures towards his car can result in arrest and it's common for people to be briefly locked up for insulting the president.

Mahola said the band's Zimbabwean fans had applauded Chicken To Change. "Somebody has said something for them," she said. "We have to be able to speak. You have to be able to have a voice."