Cassette Recovery - Top Shungu Hits

In the early 1980s, soon after Zimbabwe's independence and the floushing of the local music scene, it wasn't easy to get hold of vinyl from Zimbabwe. You had to know someone who was going and ask them. In these times I was fortunate to get hold of the early Thomas Mapfumo LPs as well as LPs from Devera Ngwena and Flavian Nyathi and some of the Zimbabwe Hits compilations. The tracks being shared today come from a cassette I copied from a friend at the time and was simply entitled Top Shungu Hits. It includes hit parade songs from Speed Limit, Sugar Lump, Devera Ngwena and The Storm.

 I hope you enjoy this burst of musical energy!


ENJOY MF

African Music Show #1: Zimbabwe (1984)

Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited: Queens Hotel Beer Garden ~ 1983. Pic Bob Snow.

Before the mid 1980s marketing explosion of “world music” it was very rare that radio stations outside of Africa featured popular music made in Africa. In May 1984 Triple RRR community radio station in Melbourne Australia pioneered a weekly two-hour “African Music Show” hosted by a newly converted African music enthusiast who had just spent some years volunteering as a teacher in the recently liberated Zimbabwe.

Click on the pic to check out RRR's streaming radio

The tapes of those shows, which I will be sharing over the course of this year, are a fascinating document of Tony Hunter’s perspectives on popular African musics of the time. Tony’s insights and sometimes dry humour provide an entertaining commentary between the main business of his radio shows, great music played from his vinyl collection.

Tony spent two years in Zimbabwe and then in 1983 travelled overland to Congo Kinshasa with the main goal of seeing as many live music performances as possible, and to collect vinyl.

Tony picks up the story: “When I got home to Australia my tea chest of records had arrived and I decided that the word needed to be spread. The most successful independent/community radio station in Australia is 3 RRR (Triple R) – weekly listenership is currently 440,000. Helped by Melbourne’s flat topography it has wide reach and has been going since the late seventies. I rocked up, said I had a box of records from Africa and wanted to tell people about them.

“My exposure to African music began when I took up a teaching position in newly independent Zimbabwe in May 1981.

Tony Hunter meets up with friend
Godfrey Dzavairo
 during a 2011 return trip to Zimbabwe

“Zimbabwe recruited teachers from the Commonwealth and there were a lot who came from Australia.   You had no idea where you were to be posted, my posting was to Seke No 1 High School in the dormitory town (now a vast area) called Chitungwiza 30 km out of Harare. The school had just been built after independence and to cope with the demand for education and there were 2 schools a day. Early morning til noon and noon til late afternoon. It was called hot seat learning as the seats never got cold.

“I lived in Hatfield an outer suburb and got the bus to work. Being a white on the bus and was a source of great amazement to the locals. When walking through the township to school little kids would run inside crying mzungu, mzungu (white man). There was a lot of hostility to whites but not to us, once people found we were from Australia to teach their children we were welcomed warmly.

 “My first experience was hearing 2 huge post independence albums Africa by Oliver Mtukudzi and Gwindingwe Rine Shumba by Thomas Mapfumo. That trademark cough of Tuku’s was fascinating but it was the fast staccato guitar of Jonah Sithole in Mapfumo’s band that grabbed me the most. It was only later that I found out that the guitar was mimicking the mbira.

“I think of Oliver and Thomas as like the Beatles and the Stones. I’ve always been a Stones man and so it followed that much as I like love Oliver, I have always seen Mapfumo’s music as the spiritual heart of contemporary Zimbabwean music.

1982: Tony visiting Otis Banda

“I first saw bands at the Hotel Elizabeth – the Pied Pipers from memory. Having whites in the audience and a band with whites and blacks was a big thing in the new Zimbabwe. Optimism was incredibly high in Zimbabwe, the country was still quite affluent, Mugabe was saying all the right things (well sort of – not if you were from ZAPU or lived in Matabeleland) but internationally he was up there with Mandela.

“My regular haunt was the beer garden at Queens Hotel. A wonderful place with flowering jacaranda trees overhead, cheap beer and a regular flow of great bands. Internationals too- I can vividly remember Hugh Masekela’s shiny trumpet pointed upward to the African sky…fantastic.

“Bob Marley played at the independence ceremony and despite Mugabe declaring reggae and Rastafarianism degenerate, a lot of reggae bands toured. Aswad, UB40 and Misty In Roots stand out. Misty were incredible and I followed their tour around the country.

“Mushandira Pamwe out in Highfield was a big beer barn and I’d see Thomas out there a lot though they could be really late nights as Thomas would take breaks for hours at a time smoking mbanje. When he toured Australia I complained about that and he said you should have joined us-well a little late. Perhaps the weirdest gig was seeing Mapfumo play at the officer’s mess at the Zimbabwe air force. The 4 Brothers were often resident out at Mushandira Pamwe –they heavy on the guitars with a succession of short fast songs.

“I had a friend who lived in Kwe Kwe and I stayed with his family. There was a band that’s sound captivated me. Africa Melody was led by a guy called John Kazadi who I think came from Lumbumbashi. The few references to the band describe it as sungura music but to me it had less of rhumba feel and at times more of country rock sound with the guitars right upfront. Some months later I was in some bar in a township and this guy jumps up and exclaims “Kwe Kwe”! It was John Kazadi and we greeted each other like long lost brothers. It seems I had been obvious to spot in that Kwe Kwe beer hall,

Thomas Mapfumo: Pic Bob Snow.

“A band I regret never seeing were the Devera Ngwena Jazz Band who had hit after hit in the early eighties. I understand they were based at a bar in a mining area, Shangani I think but as the bar owner owned they equipment they could never tour. This changed later but not while I was there.”

“Holidays were long and frequent as the kids had to go back to help on the farms so I would travel to other African countries collecting records as I went-often not knowing who they were – singles especially were very cheap."

Tony was also responsible for compiling the hugely popular "Harare Hit Parade" series of posts on Electric Jive. You can find them here.

So – the first two hour African Music Show unsurprisingly showcases Zimbabwe. Enjoy!

Part 1: download here

Part 2 - download here

Harare Hit Parade Revisited

Once more due to overwhelming reader demand the Harare Hits compilations are back. Like mbaqanga, the electric urban sounds of Zimbabwe between the late seventies and mid-eighties hold a special place in many people's hearts. These were different times with a sense of optimism midst daily struggles and a nation still drunk with liberty. It's blistering dancefloor pop in any language that still speaks today. Enjoy this time capsule from the past that keeps us from forgetting what can be possible. These were originally compiled by Tony Hunter who spent time teaching in Zimbabwe in the early part of the 80s.

Harare Hit Parade 1: 1980-81
01. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits- Africa 
02. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Cheka Hukama
03. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Madzongo Nyedze
04. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Seiko
05. Elijah Madzikatire and Ocean City Band – Very Sorry
06. Elijah Madzikatire and Ocean City Band – Gukura Hundi
07. Devera Ngwena Jazz Band – Zhimozhzhi
08. Devera Ngwena Jazz Band – Barba Mwana Wakanaka
09. Devera Ngwena Jazz Band – Ruva Remoyo Wangu
10. Job Mashanda and the Muddy face – Zuva Rakabuda
11. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Shanje
12. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Reura
13. Zexie Manatsa and the Green Arrows – Chivaraidze
14. Zexie Manatsa and the Green Arrows – Tambayi Makachenjera
MF


Harare Hit Parade 2: 1981-84
01. Lovemore Majaivana and Jobs Combination – Okwabanye
02. Lovemore Majaivana and Jobs Combination – Isitmela
03. Lovemore Majaivana and Jobs Combination – Amanda
04. Africa Melody – Africa Yakanaka
05. Africa Melody – Emma Rega Kuchema
06. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Kumhunga
07. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Tinomuchema
08. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Yeukai
09. Marxist Brothers – Mwana We Dangwe
10. Safirio Madzikatire and Sea Cottage Sisters – Katarina
11. Zexie Manatsa and the Green Arrows – Tiyi Hobvu
12. Pied Pipers – Amayo
13. Patrick Mkwamba and the Four Brothers – Vakakunda Zviedzo
14. Patrick Mkwamba and the Four Brothers – Wapenga Nayo Bonus
15. Sungura Boys - Mandi
MF 


Harare Hit Parade 3: 1985-86
01. Jobs Combination – Imali
02. Jobs Combination – Mary
03. Jobs Combination – Ekhaya
04. Jobs Combination – Isimanga Sendoda
05. Jobs Combination – Usathane Simehlule
06. Fallen Heroes – Uthando Lwemali
07. Robson Banda and the New Black Eagles – Huya Tshande
08. Kassongo Band – Panyadzonya
09. Marxist Brothers – Sekuyo Ndipeiwo Zano
10. Marxist Brothers – Mari
11. Marxist Brothers – Kunjere Kunjere
12. Oliver Mtukudzi a and the Black Spirits – Chenjera
13. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Mhaka
14. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Munamato Yedu
MF


Harare Hit Parade 4: 1985-1987
01. Robson Banda and the New Black Eagles - Maria 
02. Robson Banda and the New Black Eagles -Emmah 
03. Jairos Jiri Band - Chando Chinouraya 
04. Jairos Jiri Band - Mai Murambatsvina 
05. Jairos Jiri Band - Ndezvedu 
06. Jairos Jiri Band - Sarah 
07. Jairos Jiri Band - Zvemumba Medu 
08. Oliver Mtukudzi - Gona 
09. Oliver Mtukudzi - Jeri 
10. Ilanga - Somandhla
MF

Flavian Nyathi and the Blues Revolution: Ropa Re Zimbabwe

By popular request Electricjive reposts this Zimbabwean classic from 1980 - originally from the Matsuli blog:
"The first two Zimbabwean LPs I heard and subsequently taped from a friend (as you did back in those days of the TDK C90) were Thomas Mapfumo's Gwindingwe Rine Shumba and Flavian Nyathi's Ropa Re Zimbabwe. Thomas Mapfumo you should know along with other Zimbabweans such as Oliver Mtunkudzi. But how many of you have heard of Flavian Nyathi? No background information, just a classic LP full of revolutionary sentiment for better times. Have a listen and let me know if you agree on its status. If you look carefully you can see a Josh & Kathy's Soundland sticker, the Harare record bar frequented by many looking for exciting Zimbabwean pop." (Matt Temple)

Flavian Nyathi and the Blues Revolution - Ropa Re Zimbabwe (Gallo Records, Disc. KK 13, 1980)
Takawira
Mwana Takamushaya
Ve Soweto
Ndikakunga Maivangu
VaMugabe
Ropa ReZimbabwe
Pfumo Demo
Baba Namai
Vakasara
Hakuna Nyika Isna Rinda 

ENJOY VIA MEDIAFIRE

The Bhundu Boys (1983)

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere the sun isn't shining too bright and so to remedy this situation the wonderful hopeful sounds of the Bhundu Boys from their debut LP from 1983. Personally I was in the UK to witness them riding a wave of popularity in so many pubs and clubs (I even worked as a roadie carrying their sound system at a gig in Fulham back in 1986). They were picked up by the label Diskafrique and later Warner and even supported Madonna at Wembley Stadium. But the story of what happened to the band is somewhat sad and reported in an interview with founding member Rise Kagona in the Guardian back in 2006.

But if its the music you want then sit back and enjoy some sunshine sounds.

The Bhundu Boys (Rugare 1000, 1983)
A1 CHEKUDYA CHOSE
A2 HUPENYU HWANGU
A3 PACHEDU
A4 ZVICHATINETSA
B1 KUROJA CHETE
B2 NHAI MUKOMA
B3 KUMBIRAYI
B4 UNE SHUWA HERE

Download: Mediafire

Thomas Mapfumo on 45 - More Chimurenga Hits!

Thomas Mapfumo in the mid seventies with the Acid band

Much has been written about Thomas Mapfumo and his role in the evolution of indigenous Zimbabwean popular music. The web has a multitude of resources which can be easily accessed. Today electricjive follows up its earlier post from over two years ago with more of his early material that was mostly released on seven inch 45rpm format.

The highly recommended album releases by Thomas Mapfumo from this period include: Hokoyo!, Gwindingwe Rine Shumba, Ndangariro and Mabasa. Seek them out!

Tracklisting (in rough chronological order from circa 1977-1985)
01. Yarira Nerha (Jukebox Whitelabel) as "Thomas Mapfumo"
02. Imhere (AS 1040), as "The Blacks Unlimited"
03. Pamuromo Chete (AS 1050), with the Acid Band
04. Dindingwe (AS1058), with the Pied Pipers
05. Zvandiviringa (AS1088), as "Thomas Mapfumo"
06. Nyathi (AS1104), with the Blacks Unlimited
07. Shumba (AS1109), with the Blacks Unlimited
08. Rita (AS1110), with the Blacks Unlimited
09. Pidigori (AS1114), with the Blacks Unlimited
10. Paridzai (AS1115) with the Blacks Unlimited
11. Haruna (AS1118) with the Blacks Unlimited
12. Nhamo Yapera (AS1119) with the Blacks Unlimited
13. Nyamutavagu Nemombe (AS 1125) with the Blacks Unlimited
14. Ngoma XXXX(AS1126) with the Blacks Unlimited

Streaming link:

Thomas Mapfumo on 45: Early Chimurenga Singles by ... on Mixcloud

Download link: Mediafire

Enjoy !

Voice of the Ancestors (mbira dzavadzimu)

And now for another sojourn just north of South Africa to Zimbabwe. In Shona music, the mbira dzavadzimu ("voice of the ancestors") and national instrument of Zimbabwe, is a musical instrument that has been played for thousands of years. The mbira dzavadzimu is frequently played at religious ceremonies and social gatherings called mabira.

In the seventies it took Thomas Mapfumo and guitarist Jonah Sithole to transcribe the sounds of the mbira to electric guitar and sing in Shona, as opposed to playing American rock covers. This was a breakthrough moment for Mapfumo and set the platform for his rise to popularity.

A typical mbira dzavadzimu consists of between 22 and 28 keys constructed from hot- or cold-forged metal affixed to a hardwood soundboard (gwariva) in three different registers—two on the left, one on the right. While playing, the little finger of the right hand is placed through a hole in the bottom right corner of the soundboard, stabilizing the instrument and leaving thumb and index finger of the right hand open to stroke the keys in the right register from above and below. The fingers of the left hand stabilize the left side of the instrument, with most fingers reaching behind the instrument. Both registers on the left side of the instrument are played with the left thumb and sometimes the left forefinger. Bottle caps, shells, or other objects ("machachara") are often affixed to the soundboard to create a buzzing sound when the instrument is played. In a traditional setting, this sound is considered extremely important, as it is believed to attract the ancestral spirits.

During a public performance, an mbira dzavadzimu is frequently placed in a deze (calabash resonator) to amplify its sound. The mbira dza vadzimu is very significant in Shona religion and culture, and considered a sacred instrument. It is usually played to facilitate communication with ancestral spirits. Within the Shona tradition, the mbira may be played with paired performers in which the kushaura, the caller, leads the performed piece as the kutsinhira, the responder, "interlocks" a subsequent part. The Ritual is known as the Bira. During these all night ceremonies, people call upon the spirits to answer questions, the variations of notes in an Mbira piece aid the participants by going into a trance in which it is said in shona culture aid the spirits in taking over the participants body.

(most of the above taken from Wiki)

Many friends of mine in Zimbabwe have hired Mbira groups to play all night when moving into a new house...in essence to settle the spirits. And so without further ado three lovely albums of Mbira music.

Two rare albums from the Mazai Mbira Group.
Enjoy via Rapidshare

And re-loaded from Matsuli, the classic Music of the Spirit album from Ephat Mujuru. This legendary album single handedly popularised mbira music in Southern Africa. This project was specially commissioned by Gramma Records on the first anniversary of Zimbabwe's independence. Ephat Mujuru's band Mudzimu waVanhu (Spirit of the People) included the late Thomas Wadharwa (sekuru) Gora, Forbes Gushungo, Martha Mujuru, Martha Tembo, Lovemore Chiripanyanga and Patrick Mberi. File next to Paul Berliner's field recording of Mhuri yekwa Rwizi's Soul of Mbira. 
Enjoy via Rapidshare

Thomas Mapfumo - more early singles from the Lion of Zimbabwe

A very special treat today. We return to the very popular sounds of pre-(and just post-) independence Zimbabwe to listen to some early and rare singles from the Lion of Zimbabwe, Thomas Mapfumo and his various backing bands during this time. A number of his early singles were compiled onto three highly recommended albums: Hokoyo!, Gwindingwe Rine Shumba (both recently reissued by Water records on CD) and the Chimurenga Singles (now out of print). The five singles being shared today are from this same period - a time when the style was being defined by Mapfumo and his guitarist Jonah Sithole. For a comprehensive overview of Thomas Mapfumo I suggest the following article at Zambuko. This details Mapfumo's career progression from rock music in a number of early combos to his time with the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band and then with the Acid Band, the Pied Pipers, Black Spirits and Blacks Unlimited.


Thomas Mapfumo and the Acid Band


Afro Soul AS1055
A. Pamuromo Chete (Mapfumo) - Thomas Mapfumo and the Acid Band
B. Njiva (Gweshe) - Thomas Mapfumo and the Acid Band (lead vocal Albert Gweshe)
The first "chimurenga single" where Thomas Mapfumo responds directly to the then white ruler Ian Smith's declaration that Zimbabwe will never be ruled by Africans. His response - Pamuromo Chete - "this is just mere talk".

Afro Soul AS1058
Pasi Pani Nhamo (Mapfumo) - Thomas Mapfumo and the Pied Pipers
Dindingwe (Mapfumo) - Thomas Mapfumo and the Pied Pipers
Mapfumo played for a while with the afro-rock outfit the Pied Pipers who were later famous for their reggae infused "You Can't Stop the Revolution". A later version of Dindingwe appears on the Hokoyo LP.

Afro Soul AS1088
A. Matiregerera Mambo (Mapfumo) - Thomas Mapfumo
B. Zvandiviringa (Mapfumo) - Thomas Mapfumo
Both tracks were compiled to the Hokoyo LP.

Afro Soul AS1104
A. Nyarai (Mapfumo) - Thomas Mapfumo and Blacks Unlimited
B. Nyati (Mapfumo) - Thomas Mapfumo and Blacks Unlimited<
Nyarai appears on the Chimurenga singles album.

Afro Soul AS1110
A. Rita (Mapfumo) - Thomas Mapfumo and Blacks Unlimited
B. Chitima Cherusununguku (Mapfumo) - Thomas Mapfumo and Blacks Unlimited
These tracks appear on the Gwindingwe Rine Shumba LP which is for me the most complete and satisfying album of Mapfumo's long career.

Enjoy! MEDIAFIRE

A strictly work in progress Thomas Mapfumo singles discography
AS 103 Mutoridodo/Hodi
AS 104 Alikulila/Mazhlamini
AS 105 Ngoma Yarira/Murembo
AS 1031 Ndiwudze Kwakainda Vamwe / Yarira
AS 1039 Pfumo Rinobva Mudziva / Vanopenga
AS 1055 Pamuromo Chete / Njiva
AS 1056 Ndoziva Ripi Zano / Imbwa Yangu
AS 1057 Chaminuka / Shungu Dzinondibaya
AS 1058 Pasi Pane Nhamo / Dindingwe
AS 1063 Chaive Chinyakare / Chiiko Chinotinetsa
AS 1075 Zai Ona Zai Ona / Sebenza Utshona
AS 1078 Tonga Nyaya Dzino Netsa / Teererai Mitemo
AS 1082 Ndobuda Pachena / Wa Zvione Ra
AS 1088 Zvandiviringa / Matiregerera Mambo
AS 1094 Kwa Gutu / Tamba Wakachenjere
AS 1102 Handidadirwe / Mugara Ndega
AS 1104 Nyarai / Nyati
AS 1108 Madhebhura / Monday Zuva Guru
AS 1109 Shumba / Hwahwa
AS 1110 Rita / Chitima Cherusununguko
AS 1111 Musandizonde / Joyce
AS 1113 Tsuvuuramuromo / Chiwayawaya
AS 1114 Pidigori / Ruva Rangu
AS 1117 Makandiwa/Chii Chato Go-o
AS 1119 Nhamo Yapera / Zambuko
AS 1122 Kure Kwemeso Part 1 / Kure Kwemeso Part 2

Hokoyo! (Watch Out!) - Harare Hits Rewound

Due to overwhelming reader demand the Harare Hits compilations are back. Like mbaqanga the electric urban sounds of Zimbabwe between the late seventies and mid-eighties hold a special place in many people's hearts. As I've stated before these were different times with a sense of optimism midst daily struggles and a nation still drunk with liberty. It's blistering dancefloor pop in any language that still speaks today. Enjoy this time capsule from the past that keeps us from forgetting what can be possible. These were compiled by Matsuli reader Muvimi who spent time teaching in Zimbabwe in the early part of the 80s.

Harare Hit Parade 1: 1980-81
01. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits- Africa
02. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Cheka Hukama
03. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Madzongo Nyedze
04. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Seiko
05. Elijah Madzikatire and Ocean City Band – Very Sorry
06. Elijah Madzikatire and Ocean City Band – Gukura Hundi
07. Devera Ngwena Jazz Band – Zhimozhzhi
08. Devera Ngwena Jazz Band – Barba Mwana Wakanaka
09. Devera Ngwena Jazz Band – Ruva Remoyo Wangu
10. Job Mashanda and the Muddy face – Zuva Rakabuda
11. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Shanje
12. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Reura
13. Zexie Manatsa and the Green Arrows – Chivaraidze
14. Zexie Manatsa and the Green Arrows – Tambayi Makachenjera
RS/MF


Harare Hit Parade 2: 1981-84
01. Lovemore Majaivana and Jobs Combination – Okwabanye
02. Lovemore Majaivana and Jobs Combination – Isitmela
03. Lovemore Majaivana and Jobs Combination – Amanda
04. Africa Melody – Africa Yakanaka
05. Africa Melody – Emma Rega Kuchema
06. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Kumhunga
07. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Tinomuchema
08. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Yeukai
09. Marxist Brothers – Mwana We Dangwe
10. Safirio Madzikatire and Sea Cottage Sisters – Katarina
11. Zexie Manatsa and the Green Arrows – Tiyi Hobvu
12. Pied Pipers – Amayo
13. Patrick Mkwamba and the Four Brothers – Vakakunda Zviedzo
14. Patrick Mkwamba and the Four Brothers – Wapenga Nayo Bonus
15. Sungura Boys - Mandi
RF/MF


Harare Hit Parade 3: 1985-86
01. Jobs Combination – Imali
02. Jobs Combination – Mary
03. Jobs Combination – Ekhaya
04. Jobs Combination – Isimanga Sendoda
05. Jobs Combination – Usathane Simehlule
06. Fallen Heroes – Uthando Lwemali
07. Robson Banda and the New Black Eagles – Huya Tshande
08. Kassongo Band – Panyadzonya
09. Marxist Brothers – Sekuyo Ndipeiwo Zano
10. Marxist Brothers – Mari
11. Marxist Brothers – Kunjere Kunjere
12. Oliver Mtukudzi a and the Black Spirits – Chenjera
13. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Mhaka
14. Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Munamato Yedu
RF/MF


Harare Hit Parade 4: 1985-1987
01. Robson Banda and the New Black Eagles - Maria
02. Robson Banda and the New Black Eagles -Emmah
03. Jairos Jiri Band - Chando Chinouraya
04. Jairos Jiri Band - Mai Murambatsvina
05. Jairos Jiri Band - Ndezvedu
06. Jairos Jiri Band - Sarah
07. Jairos Jiri Band - Zvemumba Medu
08. Oliver Mtukudzi - Gona
09. Oliver Mtukudzi - Jeri
10. Ilanga - Somandhla
RS/MF

Ilanga Visions Foretold - Zimbabwe

A quick step across the border to Zimbabwe for a quick post. Ilanga burned bright for three years, during which they played at the 1988 Harare Human Rights concert which also featured Peter Gabriel, Youssou N’Dour and the Bhundu Boys.

Ilanga's blend of Shona, Ndebele and Western sounds was very popular in Zimbabwe – lots of keyboards and a strong bassline. “Visions Foretold” (1987) was their first album and quickly led to favourable comparisons with South Africa’s Ray Phiri and Stimela – another hybrid of traditional and jazz.

While Ray Phiri had to 'whisper in the deep' at the time, Ilanga could defy apartheid South Africa openly; as in the track "Botha" .. 'Botha, what you gonna do when Azania is free ... you just have to jump into the sea ... time is running out for you ... where you gonna run, where you gonna hide ...".

Ilanga produced two albums before splitting up. A greatest hits CD was released, but is nigh impossible to find new.

Recorded at the Frontline Studios. Produced by T. Mabaleka.

Andy Brown (guitar, vocals)

Busi Ncube (vocals, percussion)

Don Gumbo (bass, vocals)

Keith Farquharson (keyboards)

Gibson Nyoni (drums)

Charles Mangena (backing vocals)

UPDATED LINK (July 2015)