Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo (born 1945) is a Zimbabwean musician known as "The Lion of Zimbabwe" and "Mukanya" for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his music, including his sharp criticism of the government of President Robert Mugabe. He both created and made popular Chimurenga music and his slow-moving style and distinctive voice is instantly recognizable to Zimbabweans. Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited is currently touring the Northeast, and will hit the West Coast in August. Look for him to take to the stage of [...]
Apr 3, 2011, 1:47pm
Pejhy
Image taken from the brilliant ' Things Organized Neatly ' blog. Here's some equally super sounds. Introduced from Caribou's RA podcast, which featured an edited Daphni version now available on vinyl. T homas Mapfumo - Shumba | Buy From a collection of unreleased Virgo Four tracks made between 1984-1990. Melodic analogue early house. Virgo Four - I Have Always Wanted | Buy [...]
I am at an industry-fest and there is a lot to be gained from these things, but sometimes the avalanche of new people to interact with kinda gets me down. When I started writing this blog absolutely not one single fucker ever read the thing. In fact, I wrote about music for about two and a half years on my own website which had precisely no readers at all, because I can lay a website out adequately, but search engine optimisation eludes me completely. I started writing on the pretense that my little brother, who lives [...]
Chimurenga Pt. 1 can be found here So, soon enough this series is going to branch out from just Chimurenga music. Not today. The first track below is one of my all time favourite tracks ever laid down. 'Hwahwa' is Shona for Beer, and just try not to want a cold on in your hand as you listen (tip - just get one). The second track 'Zvenyika' means Politics, which is really what Mapfumo is all about. Either way, give them both a listen; the weather in MTL may be a little glum today, but your [...]
So, as it comes up to exam time for all of us, I think it's time for me to start posting some songs from my 'Chimurenga' (and other Zimbabwean music) catalogue; I have some huge favourites by Thomas Mapfumo, the Bhundu Boys, the Four Brothers. But today I'm going to post two tracks which should go perfectly with this long weekend's (predicted) weather. They are both from Oliver Mtukudzi's 2001 Album 'Bvuma (Tolerance)'. Honest, sunny-time-beats. If we tolerate, then...what struggle? Oliver Mtukudzi - Wasakara (Download Here ) [...]
Filed under: Around the World Spinner.com : "The time of happiness is more important than the time of sadness," sings Chinowiso Maraire on her new album, 'Rebel Woman,' a timely statement to her fellow citizens of embattled Zimbabwe. "You do what you do to keep yourself smiling," she... Read more
Zimbabwe and observers around the world are holding their breath for the outcome of the nation's elections. President Robert Mugabe is at the center of the fray -- a man who helped usher in Zimbabwe's independence and became president in 1987, but whose policies have reflected a growing distance between himself and the reality for Zimbabweans. The nation was once known as "the breadbasket of Africa," with a highly productive agricultural sector. But around the turn of the century, the term "basket case" was more commonly applied to the struggling country. Mr Mugabe's legacy is now [...]
Thomas Mapfumo was born on this day in Marondera, Zimbabwe. Known as "the Lion of Zimbabwe," Mapfumo popularized a style of guitar based on mbira patterns and is also known for his fierce protest music. That's one of the reasons he's currently living in Oregon, instead of his native country. That and, one might surmise, the fact that Zimbabwe currently faces the world's highest inflation rate (4500 percent) and chronic food shortages. This song is a thinly disguised rant against Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe. According to the song notes, "the father talks too much. He is always scolding [...]
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