If you collect worldmusic it is like exploring unknown terrain all
the time. One is learning new names and forms and remains
a student forever. I first learned about chimurenga through the
music of Thomas Mapfumo and fell for it straight away. Then slowly
I started to discover artists like Four Brothers or Oliver Mtukudzi
and Jonah Moyo. Only recently I learned about Simon Chibetu & his
Orchestra Dendera Kings. When I visited Gent in Belgium last week,
I found this LP and some other interesting Zimbabwean music to be
posted soon. To be honest I have not found the difference between
the Zimbabwean styles yet. There’s chimurenga, jit and mbira. The
music of Simon Chimbetu, being Congolese, is also called party rumba
or Zim Rhumba. What coincidence to find my collegue posting this
same time. I guess it was meant to be, enjoy.

tracks;

1 Usandisiye
2 Future
3 Musoro wachena
4 Pakati pegungwa
5 One way
6 Bvuma mukwasha

One of my favourite bands from Zimbabwe is this group. The
Four Brothers made their chimurenga very nicely balanced.
Just the four of them, Marshall Munhumumwe – drums and lead vocals,
Never Mutare – bass and vocals, Aleck Chipaika – rhythm guitar and vocals,
Frank Sibanda – lead guitar and vocals. Just strings, drums and voices, sweet.

tracks;

1 Rudo chete
2 Ngatipindukewo
3 Vabereki
4 Wakazvarwa sei
5 Kutambura chete
6 Munondizvidza
7 Chenjerera ngozi
8 Nhamo

A couple of weeks ago, when I was on a record trip, I found this
album. Jonah Moyo brings Chimurenga with a strong guitar drive and
chorus. He writes all his own music and is highly appreciated
throughout Zimbabwe and across it’s borders.

tracks;

1 Too cheap
2 Fundisa umlomo wakho
3 Debbie
4 Madiro
5 Uchazvibvuma
6 Taxidriver
7 Ratidza chimiro chako
8 Wangu P.
9 Nyakuzvida
10 Ndinzwei vari pasi

Tomorrow or rather, today, 21st of june, I’ll go to the
Amsterdam_Roots_Festival, a multi cultural music event
in the Amsterdam Oosterpark with 7 stages and
groups from all over our Globe. One of the groups,
Chiwoniso, you see here with Busi Ncube, is from Zimbabwe.
A fine moment to post some music by an other Zimbabwean,
Thomas Mapfumo, check out his Chimurenga
Singles from between 1976 and 1980.

tracks;

1 Chauya chirizevha
2 Tozvireva kupiko
3 Pfumvu pa ruzevha
4 Kwaedza mu Zimbabwe
5 Africa
6 Nyarai
7 Chipatapata
8 Butsu mutandarika
9 Munhu mutema
10 Ndiyani achatipa runyararo

Let’s see what we got in the car. Okay, now everybody hold
something in your hand. Perfect, great coverpicture. The music
of Thomas Mapfumo and his Blacks Unlimited is almost hypnotizing.
It makes you drift away to unknown destinations.
The Lion of Zimbabwe they call him and if you like to know
more about ‘Chimurenga’ and Thomas Mapfumo, go here.

tracks;

1 Ndanza ngoma kurira
2 Mari
3 Mabasa
4 Chemera chaunoda
5 Usatambe nenyoka
6 Muchoni

From Zimbabwe this is Thomas Mapfumo, he’s back with an album
of Greatest Hits and they are absolutely great.
Astonishing rhythms and guitarwork, Mapfumo’s coolness,
a true beauty. Tracks 2 and 3 are with the ‘Acid Band’,
the others with ‘Blacks Unlimited’.

tracks;

1 Chauya chirizevha
2 Tozvireva kupiko
03 Pfumvu pa ruzevha
4 Kwaedza mu Zimbabwe
5 Africa
6 Nyarai
7 Chipatapata
8 Butsu mutandarika
9 Munhu mutema
10 Ndiyani achatipa runyararo

For two decades Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi has been the second biggest
name in Zimbabwean Chimurenga. Little known abroad but big at
home. Just behind Thomas Mapfumo and maybe already next to him
in Zimbabwe. This is one of his two dozen albums, which I found
recently. Listen to Tuku-Music.

tracks;

1 Mukombe
2 Wawona
3 Hamunyare
4 Mondishorei
5 Hubaba
6 Kushaya mwana
7 Hatimbotya
8 Unodada nei ?

Fantastic record by ‘Mr. Music’, ‘Thomas Mapfumo’ comes in with
an album that is one of his very best. ” Music has been my life, It
knows no colour, racial or religious boundaries As long as it touches
your soul, you will flow with it. I hope that all who hear my music will
become one with me I thank my African forefathers For bringing me
up in music.” Thomas Mapfumo

tracks;

1 Congress
2 Kufa kwangu
3 Tondobayana
4 Juanita
5 Maria

Somehow I feel a strong connection with 1988 tonight.
Therefore I post this ‘Chimurenga’ LP from that year.
The Four Brothers bring a great album, guitar driven
dancematerial from Zimbabwe, I always loved this one.

tracks;

1 makorokoto
2 Rugare
3 Wapenga nayo bonus
4 Ndakatadzeiko
5 Sara tasangana
6 Pamusoroi
7 Nhaka yemusiiranwa
8 Ushandifunga
9 Guhwa uri mwana waani
10 Ndakatambura

‘Chimurenga’ is what they call this type of music, and it is from Zimbabwe.
Thomas Mapfumo comes in with this superb LP, he is the master in this style.
Originally released on Gramma in 1980, this is a 1986 re-release on
Earthworks. Very subtil guitar pushed African type of groove.
You’d better judge yourself.

tracks;

1 Shumba
2 Hwahwa
3 Mhondoro
4 Tinodanana
5 Nzwananai
6 Rita
7 Chitima Cherusununguko
8 Zimbabwe yevatema