33:
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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
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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
349:
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
330:
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
344:
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
326:
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.
302:
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
156:" 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
312:
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.
331:
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.
219:. 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
281:
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
353:
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
778:
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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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870:"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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319:. In later years, he would come to criticize the same government he, in some ways, helped bring to power.
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695:"Thomas Mapfumo, 'Lion Of Zimbabwe,' Returns From Exile With Triumphant Homecoming"
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277:) 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
152:(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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164:, 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."
858:
Banning Eyre interview of Thomas Mapfumo at Afropop Worldwide
262:. There he introduced the innovation of adapting traditional
227:, a metal-pronged instrument with spiritual importance.
235:
He joined his first band, the Zutu Brothers (although,
669:"Thomas Mapfumo eyes Zimbabwe return — Nehanda Radio"
890:
Zimbabwean legend, Thomas Mapfumo, retires in exile
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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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120:
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94:
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57:
47:
42:
23:
521:(2005, digital download; 2006, Real World Records)
513:Chimurenga Rebel (2002, Anonymous Web Productions)
171:, and he was hounded by the Mugabe government of
473:Chimurenga Varieties (1994, Chimurenga Music)
8:
527:Danger Zone (2015, Chimurenga Music Company)
745:The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music
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728:
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722:
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531:Live @ The Sanctuary for Independent Media
31:
20:
647:"Hauntingly, quintessentially chimurenga"
391:Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited
838:Mapfumo performs at Festivo 2013 (video)
771:
769:
554:The Rough Guide to the Music of Zimbabwe
405:(1983, Chimurenga Music, Gramma Records)
795:"Zimbabwe's Powerful Music of Struggle"
608:
649:. Mail and Guardian. 30 September 2011
853:Posts on Mapfumo at Afropop Worldwide
7:
937:Prisoners and detainees of Rhodesia
776:National Geographic World Music Bio
160:. He both created and popularized
14:
510:(2000, Anonymous Web Productions)
504:(1999, Anonymous Web Productions)
498:(1998, Anonymous Web Productions)
322:The PRI-syndicated radio program
539:(2023, Chimurenga Music Company)
378:Thomas Mapfumo and the Acid Band
266:to modern rock instrumentation.
175:that succeeded it. He lived in
139:http://www.thomas-mapfumo.com/
1:
623:. World Music. Archived from
345:enough that Mapfumo moved to
53:Mukanya, The Lion of Zimbabwe
191:Mapfumo was born in 1945 in
617:"Thomas Mapfumo: Biography"
260:Hallelujah Chicken Run Band
958:
932:Real World Records artists
150:Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo
524:Exile (2010, Sheer Sound)
30:
863:2 September 2014 at the
533:(2016, Chimurenga Music)
492:(1996, Chimurenga Music)
486:(1996, Chimurenga Music)
480:(1996, Chimurenga Music)
469:(1993, Chimurenga Music)
467:Chimurenga International
463:(1991, Chimurenga Music)
457:(1990, Chimurenga Music)
443:(1989, Chimurenga Music)
437:(1989, Chimurenga Music)
429:(1988, Chimurenga Music)
399:(1981, Chimurenga Music)
386:(1978, Chimurenga Music)
207:in ordinary usage after
781:10 October 2012 at the
547:Compilation appearances
237:Encyclopædia Britannica
211:gained independence as
455:Chimurenga Masterpiece
415:Chimurenga For Justice
397:Gwindingwi Rine Shumba
258:, until he was in the
43:Background information
927:Musicians from Oregon
917:People from Marondera
37:Thomas Mapfumo (2011)
922:Zimbabwean musicians
876:"The Lion In Winter"
830:4 March 2016 at the
508:Chimurenga Explosion
285:Political undertones
752:. pp. 1612/3.
750:Guinness Publishing
621:World Music Central
559:World Music Network
427:Zimbabwe Mozambique
417:(1985, Rough Trade)
307:Political overtones
116:Vocals, Lead guitar
16:Zimbabwean musician
748:(First ed.).
597:Political prisoner
373:(1990, Earthworks)
271:Africa Music Guide
892:African Arguments
582:Music of Zimbabwe
441:Varombo Kuvarombo
423:(1985, Afro Soul)
421:Mr Music (Africa)
411:(1983, Afro Soul)
324:Afropop Worldwide
209:Northern Rhodesia
201:Southern Rhodesia
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108:Singer-songwriter
84:Southern Rhodesia
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825:Mapfumo Turns 70
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627:on 17 March 2017
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587:Chimurenga music
484:Sweet Chimurenga
478:Roots Chimurenga
197:Mashonaland East
162:Chimurenga music
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243:and guitarist
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70:(age 79)
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942:Shona people
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804:. Retrieved
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740:Colin Larkin
703:. Retrieved
701:. 7 May 2018
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677:. Retrieved
673:the original
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651:. Retrieved
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629:. Retrieved
625:the original
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537:Ndikutambire
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334:Recorded at
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252:Otis Redding
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231:Early career
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126:1961–present
122:Years active
68:July 2, 1945
18:
907:1945 births
592:Hate speech
365:Discography
355:Bhundu Boys
264:Shona music
901:Categories
881:The Walrus
603:References
577:Chimurenga
448:Corruption
434:Chamunorwa
409:Ndangariro
341:Corruption
317:Bob Marley
296:Chimurenga
203:(becoming
105:Occupation
64:1945-07-02
653:1 October
193:Marondera
187:Biography
861:Archived
828:Archived
806:6 August
779:Archived
566:See also
291:Rhodesia
205:Rhodesia
181:Zimbabwe
173:Zimbabwe
169:Rhodesia
154:Zimbabwe
88:Zimbabwe
843:YouTube
631:5 March
572:Afropop
557:(1996,
518:Rise Up
384:Hokoyo!
135:Website
756:
679:10 May
403:Mabasa
371:Shumba
213:Zambia
95:Genres
80:Mazowe
76:Origin
705:7 May
461:Hondo
300:Shona
298:. In
279:mbira
273:says
225:mbira
221:ngoma
217:Mbare
177:exile
86:(now
808:2019
754:ISBN
707:2018
681:2013
655:2011
633:2015
357:and
58:Born
841:on
699:NPR
254:or
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697:.
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62:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
