Tracy Chapman concert review
National Sports Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe
Fri, 07 Oct 1988

It was so exciting to be part of the crowd witnessing Tracy together with Eric Donaldson performing live at the national stadium.

My very first concert at age 16 - it totally changed my outlook on life! I loved it! Something awoke inside of me, and I found my voice! It was my first time seeing someone not much older than me, loud and proud, and with dreadlocks. Those words she sang - thank you Ms Tracy Chapman! Thank you Oliver Mtukudzi, Thank you Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Youssour N'dour.........Thank you all! Much love for Tracy!!!!

It was an opportunity of a lifetime. Will never forget being there that day at the Human Rights Concert in Harare, 1988. The only sad part was 20,000 South African trekked to Zimbabwe from South Africa which was under apartheid and a few still found time to be racist causing fights at the show fueled by alcohol hidden under armpits. They were not used to being in close proximity to blacks on an equal footing. I was 5’2” aged thirteen and was being jostled in the crowd when Springsteen came on and one man South African adult white male sneered “stop touching me” with a disgusted look on his face. He said this while still shaking and being jostled by white people around him, but I was the only black near him and he decided to pick on me. Go figure.

This was one of the best concerts Zimbabwe ever saw. Many great memories of great times.