Henry Olonga

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In all the circumstances, we have decided that we will each wear a black armband for the duration of the World Cup. In doing so we are mourning the death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe. In doing so we are making a silent plea to those responsible to stop the abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe. In doing so, we pray that our small action may help to restore sanity and dignity to our nation [37]

Flower scored 39 runs, Olonga conceded 8 runs from 3 overs but took no wickets as Zimbabwe won the match. Their protest was supported in the world press and more widely internationally, but caused a political storm in Zimbabwe. [38] The minister of information Jonathan Moyo labelled Olonga an "Uncle Tom" with "a black skin and a white mask". [39] [40]

Despite the protest, Flower continued to play for Zimbabwe in the tournament, but Olonga was omitted from the team for six matches, ostensibly on grounds of his poor form (including a walkover against England who refused to travel to Harare). Olonga was selected to play in one more World Cup match, against Kenya in Bloemfontein in the Super Sixes stage of the tournament on 12 March. [41] He was also expelled by the Takashinga Cricket Club branding him as "traitor" and it was revealed that his girlfriend also eventually broke up with him in a mail. [42]

A warrant was issued in Zimbabwe for Olonga's arrest on charges of treason. Death threats made him go temporarily into hiding and then into exile in England after Zimbabwe's last match of the tournament, against Sri Lanka in East London. [43] [44] A knee injury forced his retirement from first-class cricket later in 2003, but he has played occasional matches since 2005 for the Lashings World XI. By 2010, he was calling for the restoration of international cricket between Zimbabwe and other countries. [45]

Beyond cricket

Olonga met physical education teacher Tara Read while both were attending the Australian Institute of Sport's cricket program in Adelaide. The couple married in 2004. [46] Olonga had lived in exile in Britain for 12 years from 2003 to 2015 and then moved to Australia in 2015 along with his wife and his two children. [25] His Zimbabwean passport was expired in 2006 when he was living in exile in England and he could not leave England for another nine years. [47] [48] In 2023 he became an Australian citizen. [49] In 2001, he composed the lyrics for the song Our Zimbabwe. [50] [51] [52] He was also nicknamed as "Singing Seamer" by the English press following the release of Our Zimbabwe song. [53]

On Friday 13 October 2006, Olonga won Five's The All Star Talent Show with 50% of the overall votes.

He is now pursuing a career as a cricket commentator and singer [54] [55] and released an album Aurelia in 2006. [56] His autobiography, Blood, Sweat and Treason, was released in July 2010 by Vision Sports Publishing and was longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2010. In addition, he also served as a public speaker, photographer, art worker and author. [57] After composing music, he made his singing debut in 2016 in a charity event performing Nessun dorma at the Sydney Cricket Ground. [58] [59]

In 2019, he entered as a contestant on the eight season of The Voice Australia and performed Anthony Warlow's album This Is the Moment! in the audition. [60] [61] [62] [63] [64] He got three chair turn from Delta Goodrem, Boy George and Kelly Rowland. He chose Kelly Rowland as his coach and was eliminated in the Battle rounds. [65] He was eliminated from the Voice Australia show after forgetting the lyrics of Elton John's Can You Feel the Love. [66] In an interview with Sportstar , he revealed that his singing career is his second innings of his life. [67]

In August 2019, he joined the fundraiser of the African AIDS Foundation to raise funds for the organisation. [68] He was appointed as global ambassador for Anglican Aid. [69]

Discography

Albums

Henry Olonga
Personal information
Full name
Henry Khaaba Olonga
Born (1976-07-03) 3 July 1976 (age 48)
Lusaka, Zambia
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast
Role Bowler
International information
National side
Test debut(cap  25)31 January 1995 v  Pakistan
Last Test19 November 2002 v  Pakistan
ODI debut(cap  41)21 October 1995 v  South Africa
Last ODI12 March 2003 v  Kenya
ODI shirt no.77
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
TitleAlbum details
Aurelia
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Ho Records
  • Format: CD

See also

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References

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  2. ↑ "'Play golf, not cricket'". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "The master bowler". Cricinfo. 2 July 2006. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "Ex cricket star Henry Olonga's heart bleeds for Zimbabwe". NewZimbabwe.com. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Little margin for error when bowling to Sachin Tendulkar, reminisces Henry Olonga". SportsCafe.in. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Interview: Heath Streak on Sachin's demolition of Olonga to Zimbabwe's Flower-ing era and beyond". Firstpost. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
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  9. ↑ "Zimbabwe's black armband protest remembered". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "Olonga and Flower make a stand". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "'Death of democracy'". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "The power of a silent plea". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
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  14. ↑ "Pilots, tenors and administrators". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  15. ↑ Flower and Olonga given MCC life membership, ESPNcricinfo, 1 October 2003
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  18. ↑ Muchinjo, Enock (17 January 2015). "The World According to Victor Olongo". Harare, Zimbabwe: The Daily News. Retrieved 30 October 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
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  31. ↑ Singh, Indra Vikram (11 May 2019). "SK Flashback: India commit hara-kiri against Zimbabwe at the start of 1999 World Cup". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  32. ↑ "Full Scorecard of Zimbabwe vs Namibia, World Cup, 2nd Match". ESPNcricinfo.
  33. ↑ Dean, Geoffrey. "Henry Olonga: 'People now get my Robert Mugabe protests'". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  34. ↑ "ICC World Cup 2003: Andy Flower and Henry Olonga don black armbands". Cricket Country. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  35. ↑ "The black band of courage". Cricinfo. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  36. ↑ "Statement of Andy Flower and Henry Olonga". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  37. ↑ Statement of Andrew Flower and Henry Olonga, ESPNcricinfo, 10 February 2003
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  39. ↑ Zimbabwe's black armband protest, ESPNcricinfo
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  41. ↑ "Full Scorecard of Kenya vs Zimbabwe, World Cup, 6th Super". ESPNcricinfo.
  42. ↑ Kumar, Bobilli Vijay (23 February 2003). "Family backs courageous Henry". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  43. ↑ Standing up for their principles, ESPNcricinfo, 27 April 2007
  44. ↑ Wigmore, Tim (1 December 2017). "Henry Olonga: I feared Robert Mugabe thugs would kill me - now I'm ready to return to Zimbabwe". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  45. ↑ Olonga asks for renewal of ties with Zimbabwe, ESPNcricinfo, 16 August 2010
  46. ↑ "Exiled cricketer Olonga weds in Australia". Archived from the original on 6 December 2004.
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  48. ↑ "Olonga granted extended visa to stay in Britain". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  49. ↑ "The Henry Olonga story".
  50. ↑ "Cricketer's song becomes soundtrack of change in Zimbabwe". Stuff. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  51. ↑ Henry Olonga (Ft. Bonnie Deuschle) – Our Zimbabwe , retrieved 3 July 2021
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  54. ↑ "Pilots, tenors and administrators". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  55. ↑ "Henry Olonga - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  56. ↑ Clements, Derek. "Henry Olonga: He has a love for Zimbabwe even now. But while Mugabe is alive, he knows he can't return". The Independent. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  57. ↑ "Cricket 'rebel' Henry Olonga now a father". Bulawayo24 News. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  58. ↑ "Zimbabwean cricket rebel Henry Olonga makes operatic debut at SCG". www.abc.net.au. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  59. ↑ Henry Olonga - Nessun Dorma at the LBW Trust Annual Dinner 2016 , retrieved 3 July 2021
  60. ↑ "Former Zimbabwe cricketer Henry Olonga's emotional rollercoaster in The Voice knockouts". Fox Sports. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
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  62. ↑ "Former Zimbabwe cricketer Henry Olonga wows judges on The Voice Australia [video]". The South African. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  63. ↑ The Blind Auditions: Henry Olonga sings 'This Is the Moment' | The Voice Australia 2019 , retrieved 3 July 2021
  64. ↑ "WATCH: Former Zimbabwe cricketer Henry Olonga stuns with audition on The Voice". The Indian Express. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  65. ↑ "Olonga bowled out of The Voice". The Chronicle. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  66. ↑ "Mourning Olonga forgets lyrics on stage". The Chronicle. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  67. ↑ Acharya, Shayan (29 May 2019). "From cricketer to singer: Henry Olonga opens up on his 'second innings'". Sportstar. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
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