Cricket Legend Henry Olonga Fled Zimbabwe After Death Threats, Now Sings on Cruise Ships
According to a report by The Sun, cricket legend Henry Olonga has been forced to flee his homeland of Zimbabwe after receiving death threats. The 48-year-old, who represented Zimbabwe at three World Cups, had a successful cricket career, even forming a rivalry with Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Olonga’s troubles began in 2001 when he released a song titled "Our Zimbabwe", a patriotic ballad that came at a time of political violence in the country under the rule of dictator Robert Mugabe. Two years later, he wore a black armband at the World Cup to protest at the "death of democracy". This bold gesture resulted in Olonga receiving death threats, forcing him to leave his country and not return for 20 years.
As reported by The Sun, Olonga has turned to singing as a way to express himself, and has even performed on cruise ships. He recently sang on a Princess Cruises ship, as seen on his Instagram account. The former cricketer has also balanced his time with cricket coaching and commentary work in Australia.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Olonga spoke about his decision to sing on cruise ships, saying, "It’s not necessarily the peak of music performance being on a cruise ship. In fact, some people think that singers go to die on cruise ships. But I don’t mind that. I don’t have an ego about my music. I sing in little retirement villages, I’ve sung to school kids, I’ve sung in little bars in front of three people. I just love singing. I love performing."
Olonga also reflected on his brave protest, stating, "I’m not just wagging a finger at people and that’s what the black armband protest was about – we can be better as a country, we can be better as politicians, we can be better as citizens. I got slaughtered for it." The cricketer-turned-singer has come a long way since his protest, and has even passed the blind audition for The Voice in 2019.
As The Sun reported, Olonga’s love for singing has taken him to various stages, including retirement villages and school events. He has not seen his father, who remains in Zimbabwe, for 20 years. Despite his successful cricket career, Olonga has found a new passion in singing, and continues to perform to this day.
The story of Henry Olonga serves as a testament to the power of courage and resilience. From being a cricket icon in Zimbabwe to fleeing his country due to death threats, Olonga has shown that with determination and passion, one can turn their life around and find new purpose. As reported by The Sun, Olonga’s journey is an inspiration to many, and his love for singing continues to bring joy to audiences around the world.
