Performed by Tute Chigamba, John Green, Austin Richey, Stefan Fiol, Tony Perman, and Jennifer Kyker
“Mutamba” (Moneky orange tree) is a type of fruit tree that sustained people, such as during a drought. That song is played in two contexts. In relation to the fruit, to the mutamba tree, they may say, “This mutamba tree is no longer bearing its matamba fruit, it has become barren.” Meaning that it is no longer producing. So where shall we go to get matamba fruit? Elderly women can’t cover long distances, so what shall they do? They are out of options.
So, that is when the tree will be visited by someone who sits down and plays “Mutamba” underneath it, to say, “The tree is now barren, it no longer fruits. So what shall I do?” He will be petitioning as he is seated there. That his hunger must be assuaged by other things that he finds, and he will eat them and be satisfied. But the mutamba tree no longer bears matamba fruits; they are exhausted. The mutamba tree is barren.
So that song is also played at the moment of petitioning during a drought. Yes, we no longer obtain what we used to obtain. So what shall we do? We are praying for something to come our way. Now that everything is finished, how shall we proceed? There is no way forward. Whatever comes along, we will eat. And at the moment when we eat again, then we will be able to move on.