44:
322:
Mapfumo's music caught the attention of the
Rhodesian government with his song "Hokoyo!", meaning "Watch out!" The government banned the record from the state-controlled radio and threw him into a prison camp without charges in 1979. They were unable to stop his records from being played in discos or
304:
was ruled by a minority of white individuals who derogated the native black population and culture. But more than that, his lyrics became overtly political, supporting the revolution that was developing in the rural areas, what the
Rhodesian government called "the communal lands". He called his new
360:
in the late 1990s. After Mugabe's overthrow in 2017, he returned to
Zimbabwe, to a massive show named 'Homecoming Bira' at Glamis Arena in Harare on April 28, 2018. The homecoming show proved that Mapfumo was out of political danger, and he returned for more shows in many parts of Zimbabwe between
341:
Most of his songs were still political, dealing with poverty and other social issues. Mapfumo comments on the fact that he does not sing many love songs: "All you need if you wanna get into the bedroom... You've got a wife. You do it. You don't have to sing a song about it." Collinet also observes
355:
in 1989. It criticised Mugabe and his government, with which
Mapfumo was becoming more and more disillusioned. Mugabe was not happy with Mapfumo, either, and Mapfumo became the target of government harassment. Mapfumo was accused of being involved with a stolen-car ring. Things got uncomfortable
337:
ran a feature on Thomas
Mapfumo in late 1988/early 1989. Host Georges Collinet describes Mapfumo as living in the low-density suburbs with his wife, who worked at a law office in downtown Harare, and his two children—a boy and a girl. And he drove a blue Ford with fake leopard-skin seat covers.
313:
it is derived from one of the architects of the first Black
Uprising of 1896 called Murenga, and is the name of the wars of liberation in both the late 19th century and the bush war from 1960s up to the Lancaster House Agreement of 1979. His songs openly called for the violent overthrow of the
167:" and "Mukanya" (the praise name of his clan in the Shona language) for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his music, including his sharp criticism of the government of former Zimbabwean president
323:
on radio stations they did not control, including the Voice of
Mozambique. Large demonstrations in protest of his arrest and an inability to find charges against him forced the government to release him after three months.
342:
that
Mapfumo can not sing anything he wants: "Clearly he can't sing 'Down with President Mugabe' – but he wouldn't want to. He supports the present government." However, that would soon change.
230:. It was during these early years that he was exposed to the traditional music of the Shona, the influence of which would drive his later music to incorporate and/or reflect the sounds of the
292:
to the electric guitar. He also started singing primarily in the Shona language, rather than in
English. Joshua Dube started to experiment mbira on guitar on Take One recorded in 1974
364:
Thomas
Mapfumo tours internationally, and still sings and speaks out about the problems of Zimbabwe. His Chimurenga style of music influenced other Zimbabwean musicians, including the
789:
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210:, a town southeast of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, though at the time the capital was called Salisbury and the country was a colony of Great Britain called
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says it was the Cyclones), as a singer at the age of 16. From then he was always in one band or another, such as The Wagon Wheels with Afro jazz musician
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sometimes doing odd jobs on the side as well, including chicken farming. Hence the name of his 1972 band, the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band.
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881:"Mapfumo, Thomas." Encyclopædia Britannica. Entry written by Elizabeth Laskey. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service, 30 July 2003.
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Free elections were held in 1980, and a new government was installed. Mapfumo performed at a celebratory concert that also featured
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Simply drawing on the native musical tradition and singing in his native language was a political statement.
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December 2018 and March 2019. He returned to his United States base after the four-month visit to Zimbabwe.
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330:. In later years, he would come to criticize the same government he, in some ways, helped bring to power.
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706:"Thomas Mapfumo, 'Lion Of Zimbabwe,' Returns From Exile With Triumphant Homecoming"
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288:) to transcribe the sounds of the chief instrument of traditional Shona music, the
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Mapfumo was imprisoned without charges under the white-dominated regime of
163:(born July 3, 1945) is a Zimbabwean musician. He is nicknamed "The Lion of
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in Harare, by long-time engineer Benny Miller, Mapfumo released the album
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Podcast featuring Thomas Mapfumo originally broadcast on WCKR 89.9 FM-NY
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in the United States for two decades, and in April 2018, returned to
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He played mostly covers of American rock and soul tunes, such as
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175:, and is known for his distinctive voice and slow-moving style.
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government, with lyrics like "Mothers, send your sons to war."
869:
Banning Eyre interview of Thomas Mapfumo at Afropop Worldwide
273:. There he introduced the innovation of adapting traditional
238:, a metal-pronged instrument with spiritual importance.
246:
He joined his first band, the Zutu Brothers (although,
680:"Thomas Mapfumo eyes Zimbabwe return — Nehanda Radio"
901:
Zimbabwean legend, Thomas Mapfumo, retires in exile
280:
He worked with guitarist Joshua Dube (Leopard Man's
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for the first time since 2005 to perform a concert.
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131:
123:
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105:
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68:
58:
53:
34:
532:(2005, digital download; 2006, Real World Records)
524:Chimurenga Rebel (2002, Anonymous Web Productions)
182:, and he was hounded by the Mugabe government of
484:Chimurenga Varieties (1994, Chimurenga Music)
8:
538:Danger Zone (2015, Chimurenga Music Company)
756:The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music
745:
743:
741:
739:
737:
735:
733:
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729:
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542:Live @ The Sanctuary for Independent Media
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658:"Hauntingly, quintessentially chimurenga"
402:Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited
849:Mapfumo performs at Festivo 2013 (video)
782:
780:
565:The Rough Guide to the Music of Zimbabwe
416:(1983, Chimurenga Music, Gramma Records)
806:"Zimbabwe's Powerful Music of Struggle"
619:
660:. Mail and Guardian. 30 September 2011
864:Posts on Mapfumo at Afropop Worldwide
7:
948:Prisoners and detainees of Rhodesia
787:National Geographic World Music Bio
171:. He both created and popularized
25:
521:(2000, Anonymous Web Productions)
515:(1999, Anonymous Web Productions)
509:(1998, Anonymous Web Productions)
333:The PRI-syndicated radio program
550:(2023, Chimurenga Music Company)
389:Thomas Mapfumo and the Acid Band
277:to modern rock instrumentation.
186:that succeeded it. He lived in
150:http://www.thomas-mapfumo.com/
1:
634:. World Music. Archived from
356:enough that Mapfumo moved to
64:Mukanya, The Lion of Zimbabwe
202:Mapfumo was born in 1945 in
628:"Thomas Mapfumo: Biography"
271:Hallelujah Chicken Run Band
969:
943:Real World Records artists
161:Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo
535:Exile (2010, Sheer Sound)
41:
874:2 September 2014 at the
544:(2016, Chimurenga Music)
503:(1996, Chimurenga Music)
497:(1996, Chimurenga Music)
491:(1996, Chimurenga Music)
480:(1993, Chimurenga Music)
478:Chimurenga International
474:(1991, Chimurenga Music)
468:(1990, Chimurenga Music)
454:(1989, Chimurenga Music)
448:(1989, Chimurenga Music)
440:(1988, Chimurenga Music)
410:(1981, Chimurenga Music)
397:(1978, Chimurenga Music)
218:in ordinary usage after
792:10 October 2012 at the
558:Compilation appearances
248:Encyclopædia Britannica
222:gained independence as
466:Chimurenga Masterpiece
426:Chimurenga For Justice
408:Gwindingwi Rine Shumba
269:, until he was in the
54:Background information
938:Musicians from Oregon
928:People from Marondera
48:Thomas Mapfumo (2011)
933:Zimbabwean musicians
887:"The Lion In Winter"
841:4 March 2016 at the
519:Chimurenga Explosion
296:Political undertones
763:. pp. 1612/3.
761:Guinness Publishing
632:World Music Central
570:World Music Network
438:Zimbabwe Mozambique
428:(1985, Rough Trade)
318:Political overtones
127:Vocals, Lead guitar
27:Zimbabwean musician
759:(First ed.).
608:Political prisoner
384:(1990, Earthworks)
282:Africa Music Guide
903:African Arguments
593:Music of Zimbabwe
452:Varombo Kuvarombo
434:(1985, Afro Soul)
432:Mr Music (Africa)
422:(1983, Afro Soul)
335:Afropop Worldwide
220:Northern Rhodesia
212:Southern Rhodesia
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119:Singer-songwriter
95:Southern Rhodesia
16:(Redirected from
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836:Mapfumo Turns 70
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682:. Archived from
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638:on 17 March 2017
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598:Chimurenga music
495:Sweet Chimurenga
489:Roots Chimurenga
208:Mashonaland East
173:Chimurenga music
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110:Chimurenga music
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81:(age 79)
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60:Also known as
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953:Shona people
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815:. Retrieved
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751:Colin Larkin
714:. Retrieved
712:. 7 May 2018
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688:. Retrieved
684:the original
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662:. Retrieved
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640:. Retrieved
636:the original
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548:Ndikutambire
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345:Recorded at
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263:Otis Redding
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247:
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242:Early career
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137:1961–present
133:Years active
79:July 2, 1945
29:
918:1945 births
603:Hate speech
376:Discography
366:Bhundu Boys
275:Shona music
912:Categories
892:The Walrus
614:References
588:Chimurenga
459:Corruption
445:Chamunorwa
420:Ndangariro
352:Corruption
328:Bob Marley
307:Chimurenga
214:(becoming
116:Occupation
75:1945-07-02
664:1 October
204:Marondera
198:Biography
872:Archived
839:Archived
817:6 August
790:Archived
577:See also
302:Rhodesia
216:Rhodesia
192:Zimbabwe
184:Zimbabwe
180:Rhodesia
165:Zimbabwe
99:Zimbabwe
854:YouTube
642:5 March
583:Afropop
568:(1996,
529:Rise Up
395:Hokoyo!
146:Website
18:Mapfumo
767:
690:10 May
414:Mabasa
382:Shumba
224:Zambia
106:Genres
91:Mazowe
87:Origin
716:7 May
472:Hondo
311:Shona
309:. In
290:mbira
284:says
236:mbira
232:ngoma
228:Mbare
188:exile
97:(now
819:2019
765:ISBN
718:2018
692:2013
666:2011
644:2015
368:and
69:Born
852:on
710:NPR
265:or
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808:.
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708:.
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
