You probably have heard their music on the airwaves and seen them on television but you still cannot put the faces behind the music. These youngsters from Chitungwiza. popularly known as Born Free Crew (Team 88), have become fashion icons in their own right. Apparently the group has introduced a new hairstyle called "Gushungo" and the 88 stands for President Mugabe's age.

The group has released a new single called "Tirivanhu Vamwe" that hit the airwaves last week.The video of the song features Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu.

The haircut is found in two styles one that incorporates a mohawk and another which is simple short haircut but with the words "Gushungo" on the sides.A number of youngsters are already spotting the new hairstyle just like the Gushungo clothing line.

Growing up together in the same neighbourhood in Chitungwiza the three guys who were all born after independence were already musicians before they grouped together.

Their two songs "Natalie" and "Ice Lolo", introduced the group as an R&B outfit but later they then changed their genre to singing revolutionary songs.

Since then, Born Free Crew has been on every radio DJ's playlist while their videos got generous airplay on the small screens.

"We noted that some youths were ignorant of how the Zimbabwe's independence came about since most were born after we attained our independence.

"So the name Born Free Crew was a result of the fact that our parents calls us that because we were not there during the liberation struggle.

"We did our research on how the majority of Zimbabweans were being oppressed by the settler minority and we asked ourselves how we can reach out to other youths for them to appreciate the sacrifices by those who fought for the country's independence," Anusa Dulana said.

The Born Free Crew comprises three members, namely Bruce Machingura (18) aka "21 Eight", Pride Mashaire (18) aka Veyla and Dulana (20) aka DJ Anusa.

According to DJ Anusa, the first project "Get Connected" was a success and they sold over 3 000 copies of the CD at last year's Zanu-PF conference and they are struggling to meet the demand.

"Now that Zimbabwe is a free country we now enjoy peace, education, youth empowerment and indegenisation because of those who fought for the country," said 21 Eight who is the only child in his family.

The three youngsters met in Chitungwiza and with DJ Anusa as a member they spent most of their time doing music when other students were doing sports.

Veyla was born in a family of four and he is a former student of Seke 4 High."At first parents never used to appreciate love songs that we used to sing but when we started singing revolutionary songs it changed their perceptions and we got overwhelming responses," Veyla said.

DJ Anusa, who is producing most of the group's songs, started out in 2008 when he produced songs for Maskiri, Skubu, New Life Choral Group among others.