Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited

Two main influences made Thomas Mapfumo the musician and international performer he is today. The first was a musical tradition passed down through the Shona people of Zimbabwe and experienced in his own family. His mother was a talented musician, and his grandparents would hold all-night parties featuring traditional instruments such as the drums and mbiras (thumb pianos). To the Shona people, their music has always embodied the spirit of their ancestors and has always told a story. It was this music and spirituality which inspired Mapfumo to develop his unique and most African of music styles: Chimurenga music. Before that he had sung and played rock'n'roll, soul, pop, blues and jazz, with bands such as the Cosmic Four Dots, the Springfields, the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band, the Acid Band and the Blacks Unlimited. The second important influence on Mapfumo was the repressive colonial regime which had occupied his homeland, then called Rhodesia, for over 100 years. Living in this setting inspired him to write lyrics about the social and political ills in his country. These were coming to a head when Mapfumo was arrested and his music was banned. Finally, after a long struggle, Zimbabwe became independent on April 18, 1980. Soon after, Mapfumo began touring and quickly became a major international star, as well as Zimbabwe's most popular musician. His current release is Chimurenga: African Spirit Music. Members of the Blacks Unlimited are: bass guitarist Allan Mwale, percussionists Lancelot Kashesha and Samson Mukanga, mbira players Bezil Makombe and Chakaipa Mhembere, guitarists B Aure and Joshua Dube, and singer Tendai Susan Ruzvidzo.

  -- AK