What is Chimurenga?
BACK
Chimurenga
Chimurenga is a Shona word which means to fight or struggle. Traditionally, chimurenga or bongozozo is
a fight in which everyone at hand participates. The word’s modern interpretation has been extended to
describe a struggle for human rights, political dignity and social justice. Thomas Mapfumo coined the
phrase chimurenga music to describe his revolutionary music which evolved during Zimbabwe’s struggle
to gain independence in the early seventies. The war of liberation which was dubbed Chimurenga
Chechipiri or the second revolution was a fulfilment of the prophesy of a great Shona spirit, Mbuya
Nehanda, sister of the great Shona prophet Chaminuka. Mbuya Nehanda led the first war, Chimurenga
Chekutanga against British colonial rule in Zimbabwe and was hanged in the late eighteen hundreds.
However before she died she declared that her bones will rise and fight the second war of liberation. Her
prophesy was not realized until almost a hundred years later. While armed struggle ragged along the
borders of Zimbabwe, Mapfumo used his music to arouse revolutionary sentiment among Zimbabweans
during the seventies. Mapfumo has continued to use his chimurenga style of music to address a
multitude of pressing political and social concerns in peace time Zimbabwe.
Characterized by biting social and political commentary, third person political innuendo, Mapfumo has
developed a style of music whose roots are traditional Shona mbira music, but played with modern
electric instrumentation, a more modern message adapted to current social and political affairs, a sense
of urgency and a cry for justice.
Thomas Mapfumo:Birth of a Legend
Thomas Tafirenyika Mukanya Mapfumo was born on July 2nd 1945 near the town of Marondera in
Zimbabwe. Even though his parents where staying in the capital city of Harare (then Salisbury), Thomas
stayed with his grandparents in rural areas. Both his grandparents where avid traditional musicians.
Thomas learned the music at an early age. His grandmother insisted on bringing him to some of the
beer parties she was invited to play and sing. Shona music is participatory music. Unlike western music
where a few musicians perform for a large audience, the Shona concept is one of every member
participating in their own capacity. Mapfumo learned by playing and singing with the traditional masters.
As a young boy in the village, Thomas did what all youngsters in the rural areas do, graze cattle and
goats, help grandparents in the fields, perform domestic chores and all activities that make living in the
village an unforgettable experience.
As Thomas approached school age, his parent summoned him to come and stay with him in Harare. In
contrast to life in the village, he was now exposed to radio, and television, media that he had no access
to living in the village. Through these media, Mapfumo was exposed to other kinds of music. He was
able to listen to music from South Africa, Zaire, USA, UK and many other parts of the world. Before long
“Chimurenga Explosion” -2000
“Chimurenga Forever” -1995
What Is Chimurenga? http://www.zambuko.com/mbirapage/resource_guide/pages/music/chimurenga.html
1 of 5 5/13/14 3:07 PM
Mapfumo had a list of favorite regional and international musicians: Franco, Miriam Makeba, Hugh
Masekela, Bing Cosby, Frank Sinatra and many others.
After school Mapfumo would spend time practicing cover songs of his favorite musicians. He particularly
idolized Nat King Cole and Elvis Presley, yes Elvis!
Rude Awakening
Mapfumo took his music seriously. He was now attempting to be a rock star. It so happened, that in
Harare (then Salisbury) and annual best rock-and-roll band contest was held. Thomas and his friends
always participated. There were both white and African bands participating from as far away as Lusaka,
Zambia and Johannesburg, South Africa. However no African band ever won these contests regardless of
their talent. It was this realization that no matter how good he was as a rocker, he was never going to
win the contest that Thomas started to re-think what his music was supposed to represent. It was then
that he convinced himself that, for the most part Africans were loosing their musical culture in pursuit of
western music. He began to focus on Shona music.
His upbringing had given him enough exposure to explore a new direction in his career. A local African
comedian who called himself, Charles Dee Ray Tiger had recorded a Shona song called Shungu
Dzinondibaya in which he made fun of a rich man who lost his wealth overnight. Mapfumo took this song
very seriously. He liked it so much that he decided to record it. Without any recording equipment or
recording budget, Mapfumo recorded the song on tape. The tape fell in the hands of an entrepreneur
who made it into a single on vinyl. To his amazement, Mapfumo heard his own voice on record while
visiting a record store in Highfield, outside Harare. The record was very successful. This was Mapfumo’s
endorsement that he can succeed as a Shona musician.
AfroRock: Precursor of Chimurenga
In 1973, Thomas Mapfumo went to a mining town of Mhangura north of Harare to look for work. While
he was there he met a few musicians who all worked at a chicken run. Together they formed a band,
The Hallelujah Chicken Run Band to experiment with the then emerging Afro-Rock style of music
pioneered by the band Osibisa. They made several Afrorock singles which all had limited success except
for one single that was traditional Shona war song. By 1975, the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe had
already taken hold and the song was met with critical acclaim.
In 1976, Thomas left Mhangura for Harare, where he hung out at the Jamaica Inn doing gigs whenever
he could. The owner of Jamaica Inn asked him to form a house band, which he did. The band was the
Black Spirits. The Spirits were together for a short while before they disbanded and Thomas was without
a band again.
Blacks Unlimited are Born!
After Thomas left Jamaica Inn and Mushandira Pamwe Hotel, in Harare, he went to Mutare where he
lived with a group of musicians. They played gigs in the Mutare area both in and out of the city. It
wasn’t until a local night-club in Mutare contracted Thomas and his friends as the club’s house band. It
“Chamunorwa”
“Chimurenga ’98”
What Is Chimurenga? http://www.zambuko.com/mbirapage/resource_guide/pages/music/chimurenga.html
2 of 5 5/13/14 3:07 PM
was then that the Blacks Unlimited was formed. The band consisted of Thomas Mapfumo, Leonard
Chiyangwa, Jona Sithole and Marshall Munhumumwe. The new Blacks Unlimited stayed together for a
couple of years until Jona Sithole left the band to go back to Harare. After a few months the remaining
members disbanded and also left Mutare for Harare. Thomas arrived in Harare without a band. However
several club and hotel owners had come to like and admire his music. The owner of Mushandira Pamwe
Hotel in Highfield asked Thomas to come and play with the hotel’s band, The Pied Pipers. They were a
rock and roll outfit with very little knowledge of Thomas’s style of traditional music. The location of
Mushandira Pamwe Hotel was ideal for Thomas. Leonard Chiyangwa, a former Blacks Unlimited member
was playing with another band across the shopping center at Machipisa Hotel. Thomas used his breaks
to listen to Leonard and his Acid Band. The Acid Band were peforming some traditional Shona music to
Mapfumo’s liking. He persuaded Leonard to practice with him and before long they recorded their
critically acclaimed single, Pamuromo Chete which was in response to Ian Smith’s declaration that
Zimbabwe will never be ruled by Africans in his life time. Thomas and the Acid band’s response was that
was just mere talk. The song, sung in the native language Shona and laced with political innuendo
literally ignited the nation as every African understood the message. Thomas Mapfumo had now become
a household name. In the meantime, the liberation struggle was gaining ground around the country. As
if to thank the fans for their support and appreciation, Mapfumo recorded another song that became an
instant hit, Pfumvu Paruzevha which means trouble in the rural areas. Because of the fighting that was
happening in the rural areas, people instantly identified with the song and Mapfumo’s popularity soared.
In the meantime the government started getting interested in Mapfumo’s popularity. They finally figured
out that Mapfumo’s music was galvanizing the African population and encouraging young people to cross
the border into Mozambique for military training.
Mapfumo: Political Prisoner
When it became apparent to the Smith regime that Mapfumo’s music was subversive and politically
inciting, he was detained for three moths without charge. However while he was in jail Mapfumo made
lots of friends as most of the African prison workers knew who he was and what his music was about.
The was so popular in prison that some prison employees used to bring him food from their homes so he
wouldn’t have to rely on prison food alone.
After three months the government of Rhodesia decided to release Mapfumo on condition that he play at
a political rally for the African National Council (ANC) then headed by Bishop Abel Muzorewa. The ANC
was working with the Smith regime to forge a political agreement to set a timetable for Zimbabwe’s
independence.
“Vahnu Vatema” 1994
THOMAS MAPFUMO Discography (compiled by Manny
Rettinger)
• HOKOYO – Thomas Mapfumo & the Acid Band (1978)
(Gramma ) LP & Cass.
• CHIMURENGA SINGLES (1976-1980) – Thomas
Mapfumo with the Acid Band, and with the Blacks
Unlimited (Shanachie CD) / Also as: GREATEST HITS
(Gramma – 1992) LP & Cass.
• GWINDINGWI RINE SHUMBA – Thomas Mapfumo
& the Blacks Unlimited (Teal/Gramma -1980) LP &
Cass.
• NDANGARIRO – Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks
Unlimited (Gramma – 1983 LP & Cass; Carthage CD)
• MABASA- Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited
(Gramma -1984) LP & Cass
• MR. MUSIC (Africa) – Thomas Mapfumo & the
Blacks Unlimited (1985 – Gramma) LP & Cass
• CHIMURENGA FOR JUSTICE – Thomas Mapfumo &
the Blacks Unlimited (1986 Gramma/Rough Trade) LP
& Cass
• ZIMBABWE/MOZAMBIQUE – Thomas Mapfumo &
the Blacks Unlimited (Gramma -1987) LP & Cass
What Is Chimurenga? http://www.zambuko.com/mbirapage/resource_guide/pages/music/chimurenga.html
3 of 5 5/13/14 3:07 PM
• VAROMBA KUVAROMBA / – Thomas Mapfumo & the
Blacks Unlimited (1988) LP & Cass – released as
CORRUPTION (1989 Mango CD )
• CHAMUNORWA – Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks
Unlimited (1989 – Gramma) LP & Cass; 1991 Mango
CD)
• CHIMURENGA MASTERPIECE -Thomas Mapfumo &
the Blacks Unlimited (Gramma 1990) LP & Cass
• SHUMBA: Vital Hits of Zimbabwe – Thomas
Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited (1990 – Earthworks
CD)
• HONDO – Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited
(Gramma – 1992) LP & Cass. (ZIMBOB – 1993) CD &
Cass.
• CHIMURENGA INTERNATIONAL – Thomas
Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited (1993- Gramma) LP &
Cass.; (1994 – ZIMBOB) CD & Cass. – released as
“VANHU VATEMA”
• THE SINGLES COLLECTION 1976-1986- Thomas
Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited (1992 –
Teal/Gramma) – Cass. (1996 – ZIMBOB CD)
• SWEET CHIMURENGA – Thomas Mapfumo & the
Blacks Unlimited (1994- Gramma) LP & Cass.
• CHIMURENGA VARIETIES – Thomas Mapfumo &
the Blacks Unlimited (1995- Gramma)LP & Cass.
• SWEET CHIMURENGA – Thomas Mapfumo & the
Blacks Unlimited (1995- Gramma) LP & Cass.
• CHIMURENGA FOREVER- The Best of Thomas
Mapfumo (1995- EMI Hemisphere CD)
• ROOTS CHIMURENGA – Thomas Mapfumo & the
Blacks Unlimited (1996- Gramma) LP & Cass.
• AFRO CHIMURENGA – Thomas Mapfumo & the
Blacks Unlimited (1996- Gramma) Cass.
• CHIMURENGA MOVEMENT – Thomas Mapfumo &
the Blacks Unlimited (1997- Gramma) LP & Cass.
• CHIMURENGA AFRICAN SPIRIT MUSIC – Thomas
Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited (1997- Real World)
CD, also released as THE LION OF ZIMBABWE
(1997- Gramma) Cass.
What Is Chimurenga? http://www.zambuko.com/mbirapage/resource_guide/pages/music/chimurenga.html
4 of 5 5/13/14 3:07 PM
• Chimurenga ’98- Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks
Unlimited (1998- aNOnym reCOrds) CD (1998-
Gramma) Cass.
• LIVE AT EL REY – Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks
Unlimited (1999- aNOnym reCOrds) CD
• CHIMURENGA EXPLOSION – Thomas Mapfumo &
the Blacks Unlimited (1999- Chimurenga Music Co.)
Cassette (2000- aNOnym reCOrds) CD
• Manhungetunge- Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks
Unlimited (2000- Chimurenga Music Co.) Cassette/CD
• Dreams and Secrets – Thomas Mapfumo & the
Blacks Unlimited/Wadada Leo Smith and N’Da Kulture
(2001- aNOnym reCOrds) CD
• Chimurenga Collected – Thomas Mapfumo & the
Blacks Unlimited (2001 – Nascente UK and EU only
licensed through aNOnym reCOrds)
© 2004 Solomon Murungu & Zambuko Projects® Unlimited
What Is Chimurenga? http://www.zambuko.com/mbirapage/resource_guide/pages/music/chimurenga.html
5 of 5 5/13/14 3:07 PM
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
