Henry Olonga’s Heartbreaking Story: From Being Zimbabwe’s First Black Cricketer To Singing On Ships
Henry Olonga, the former Zimbabwe pacer, has revealed that years after retiring from cricket, he now sings on cruises, in small retirement villages, for school kids, and in little bars, even if there are just three people present, as life has taken a massive turn for him over the past decade. According to a report by News18, Olonga’s life has been a rollercoaster ride since his cricketing days.
Olonga always had a knack for music, and his song "Our Zimbabwe" was released at a time of political violence 24 years ago as the Robert Mugabe regime went about grabbing lands and invading farms. The song, which was a call for Zimbabweans to work together, has become somewhat triggering for Olonga, as he reflects on his life and career. As quoted by The Telegraph, Olonga said, "One of the lines goes: ‘Though I may go to distant borders, My soul will yearn for this my home, For time and space may separate us, And yet she holds my heart alone.’ And then another is: ‘As we all stand to build our nation, This is our land, our Zimbabwe.’" News18 reported.
Olonga last played cricket in 2008, in a T20 tournament in New Zealand, and since then, he has gone on to try odd jobs. Two years after releasing the song, he and former cricketer Andy Flower wore black armbands during the 2003 World Cup to protest at the ‘death of democracy’ in the nation. This act of defiance led to Olonga receiving death threats, being thrown off the team bus, and being forced to run away from Zimbabwe. News18 revealed that Olonga was the first black Zimbabwe Test cricketer and the youngest as well, when he made his debut aged just 18.
In an interview, Olonga said, "I’ve been accused of being scared. I’ve been accused of being a chicken; that I should have stayed in Zimbabwe. The high commissioner pulled me aside. The first thing he said was: ‘Why are you denigrating the government of Zimbabwe?’ I thought: ‘My gosh, that’s a lovely way to say hello.’" Olonga added that he tried to be respectful, but the high commissioner had an old-school mentality and thought he had betrayed the country. News18 reported that Olonga’s protest during the World Cup was a call for Zimbabweans to work together and be better as a country.
Olonga’s music career has not been easy, and he has had to perform in small venues and on cruise ships. He said, "It’s not necessarily the peak of music performance being on a cruise ship. Some people think that singers go to die on cruise ships. It’s like where you go when you haven’t made it anywhere else." Despite this, Olonga continues to sing and perform, and he will be at Trent Bridge working as a summariser for Test Match Special during their coverage of Zimbabwe’s first Test in England in 22 years. News18 reported.
In conclusion, Henry Olonga’s story is a heartbreaking one, from being Zimbabwe’s first black cricketer to singing on ships. His life has taken a massive turn over the past decade, and he continues to reflect on his career and protest against the government. As reported by News18, Olonga’s story is a testament to the challenges faced by athletes and musicians who speak out against injustice.
