Former Zimbabwe Fast Bowler Henry Olonga Becomes R&B Singer

The R&B stops as DJ Robbie T inserts his favourite CD into the music system. As the first song amplifies its way through speakers across the ground, the crowds come to a momentary standstill. The voice croons, sending the spectators at the Harare Sports Club into a rapturous tizzy.

"Who is the singer?" asks the bartender at the Maiden Public House, the watering hole at the ground, as three men swivel their chairs around, annoyed. "Don't you know anything? That's Henry Olonga, the singer," answers one of the Zimbabwe fans, before returning to the music.

It has been a little more than seven years since Olonga, the former Zimbabwe fast bowler, was forced to flee the country. After protesting the "Death of Democracy" in Zimbabwe by sporting a black arm-band along with compatriot Andy Flower during the 2003 World Cup, Olonga found solace in England. Now 33, he is in the process of making a career in the music industry.

Although he isn't physically present to witness 'Our Zimbabwe' — the popular track from his first album 'Aurelia' — capture the imagination of the locals at Harare, Olonga is pleased to know that his album is doing well at "home".

"The lyrics in the song calls for unity in the country. Anyone who knows the history of Zimbabwe will tell you that we have been a divided nation. The song stands for the coming together of all its people to fight injustice," says Olonga, over the phone from London.

So what has he been upto since his cricket days were truncated? "I found my niche in music. I'm a musician, singer, a collector of art, lots of things really. For the better part of the last seven years, I've been in London, trying to find myself. As of now, I'm a small fish in a very large pond. My music is basically categorized into easy listening. It isn't anything heavy and can't really be classified into a specific genre."

So are there more albums in the pipeline? "Three more music albums will be released by the end of the current year. I'm also working on my autobiography, so I'm in the process of telling my story to whoever is willing to listen."

With 30 one-day internationals and 50 Test matches under his belt, some would say that Olonga's cricket story never got its due, but the first black cricketer to represent Zimbabwe has a few pleasant memories with the side. "The 1999 World Cup stands out, when I took a few late wickets against India in Leicestershire to win the game for Zimbabwe. The series against Pakistan too is one of my most memorable moments, playing against the likes of Aaqib Javed and Waqar Younis, and to be adjudged the Man of the Series."

Although Olonga plays cricket for Lashings once in a while, following the progress of his former national team has been even more sparse. "We don't have plenty of free television channels broadcasting Zimbabwe cricket. I do know we're doing well and have reached the finals, but is it okay if you could tell me the score?"

Olonga isn't quite sure whether he would like to return. "When it comes to burying the hatchet, I'm not sure who the hatchet is against really. But in all honesty, I don't think I'll find the time in my extremely busy schedule to help out Zimbabwean cricket. I think the guys who are running the scene are doing a good job. I'll stick to my music and art collection for now."

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