Afropop Presents: Thomas Mapfumo Live

 

Thomas Mapfumo: vocals
Lancelot Mapfumo: keyboards, congas, vocals
Chartwell Dutiro: mbira, tenor saxophone
Benhura: mbira
Everson Chibamu: trumpet, hosho, vocals
Ephraim Karimaura: guitar
Charles Makokowe: bass
Shepherd Munyanma: drums
Sebastian Mbata: drums
Kudzai Chiramuseni: backing vocal
Tendai Ruzvidzo: backing vocal

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Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited made their second U.S. tour. By this time, the group was legend in Zimbabwe. Thomas had penned some of the classic songs of the liberation struggle in the 1970s. His so-called "chimurenga singles" were credited with motivating and inspiring the guerilla fighters during the war, and with getting Mapfumo arrested and jailed in 1979. A decade later, Mapfumo had moved onto singing about the corruption and unfulfilled promises of the regime that took power in 1980. On the 1991 tour, he was playing a new song called "Jo Jo," a bitter cautionary tale about young people who get used by politicians to do their "dirty work." Mapfumo's songs of this period were both a proud look back at what Zimbabweans had accomplished, and a prescient warning about dire troubles to come.

The band too had evolved. The original Blacks Unlimited helped revolutionize Zimbabwean music by transferring the sacred music of the iron-pronged mbira, an instrument used in Shona religious ceremonies, onto guitars�effectively bringing village music to the city. Now, for the first time, two actual mbiras joined the lineup, making the band a kind of folk orchestra, richly blending traditional music with shades of jazz, rock 'n roll, reggae, and various forms of regional pop music, all of which Mapfumo had performed during a career that goes back to the early 60s. In the Blacks Unlimited's 1991 formation, the two horn players alternated between western and African instruments, giving the band a broad new range of sonic texture. This approach had been a huge hit at home, and the band had been performing constantly, giving the musicians chemistry, drive, and polish that you get only by keeping crowds dancing long into the night. Night after night.

Mapfumo and his musicians were also thrilled to be performing in the U.S. at last, a long held dream. S.O.B's was one of the country's top clubs for African music at the time, and the musicians gave it their all. The concert was recorded on 24-track analogue tape by public radio's Afropop Worldwide, allowing it to be mixed to perfection. So not only is this one of the great performances of African pop music�s golden age, but one of the great recordings. The sublime energy and inspiration of this historic gig are evident in every note. Some of these tracks have been broadcast on Afropop Worldwide, but this 2005 on-line release on the Afropop.org Music Shop, in collaboration with CalabashMusic.com, marks the first time they have been available to the general public.

Production Credits:
Sean Barlow and Ned Sublette: Producers of recording and mix for Afropop Worldwide
Kooster McAllister: recording and mix engineer for Record Plant Remote
Paul Prestopino: Associate recording engineer
Manny Rettinger: Mastering engineer
Banning Eyre: Liner notes and photographs
Thanks also to Larry Gold and the staff of S.O.B.'s
We dedicate this recording to the six band members who are no longer with us (names with asterisks.)
Recording: World Music Productions 2005
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