Zamrock

History#

Zamrock’s roots can be traced back to the 1950s, with northern singers from the Copperbelt Province such as Stephen Tsotsi Kasumali, William Mapulanga, and John Lushi. Zamrock as a musical movement came of age in the turbulent first decade after Zambia’s independence from British colonialism, rising and falling in tandem with the country’s economic success. In order to celebrate the culture of the newly independent nation, Kaunda decreed that 95% of music played on radio stations had to be Zambian in origin. When the country offered to shelter refugees, Zambia’s power stations were bombed. Once-prosperous cities were at the mercy of blackouts and curfews. The AIDS epidemic played a huge part in bringing Zamrock to an end. The disease began to spread in the 1980s and has continued to devastate the nation since. It is estimated that between 1.2 million and 1.3 million have died from AIDS in Zambia as of 2019. Every member of WITCH except Emanuel “Jagari” Chanda had died of AIDS by 2001. In the last 5 years since his return in 2017, he has performed in several European cities such as Moscow and Paris, something he never got the chance to do in his band’s prime. He has also toured around the United States, and been awarded for his achievements by the Zambian National Arts Council.

About the music#

Because the peak of Zamrock music occurred during a period of social unrest, much of the music released at the time reflected the difficulties that people were facing. Sometimes referred to as an aggressive genre, it addressed contentious issues such as racism in Southern Africa all while still maintaining an exuberant feel.

Definition#

The term “Zamrock” refers to the combination of Western rock with the distinct style of African music. Zambian DJ Manessah Phiri is credited with the creation of the term. Zamrock is heavily influenced by psychedelic rock and funk music, popular Western genres of the 1970s. It shares many features of these genres, most notably wah wah and fuzz.

External links#

• We Intend to Cause Havoc – Interview with Chanda about Zamrock – BBC World Service (March 2019)