Thomas Mapfumo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Mapfumo
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Thomas Mapfumo (2011)
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Mukanya, The Lion of Zimbabwe |
| Born | July 2, 1945 |
| Origin | Mazowe, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) |
| Genres | Chimurenga music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, Lead guitar |
| Years active | 1961–present |
Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo (born July 3, 1945) is a famous musician from Zimbabwe. People call him "The Lion of Zimbabwe" and "Mukanya." Mukanya is a special name from his family's Shona clan. He got these names because he is very popular. His music also has a lot of political power. He often used his songs to speak out against the government, especially the former president, Robert Mugabe.
Thomas Mapfumo created a unique type of music called Chimurenga music. He is known for his special singing voice and his calm, steady musical style. He was even put in prison without a reason by the white-led government of Rhodesia. Later, the new government of Zimbabwe also caused him trouble. He lived away from Zimbabwe in the United States for 20 years. In 2018, he came back to Zimbabwe for a concert, his first visit since 2005.
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Thomas Mapfumo's Life Story
Thomas Mapfumo was born in 1945 in a town called Marondera. This town is in Mashonaland East, southeast of Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. At that time, Harare was called Salisbury. The country was a British colony known as Southern Rhodesia.
Until he was ten, Thomas lived a traditional Shona life in the countryside. Then, his family moved to a township in Harare called Mbare. During these early years, he learned about traditional Shona music. This music later inspired him to include sounds from the ngoma drum and the mbira in his own songs. The mbira is a metal instrument that is very important in Shona culture.
Starting His Music Career
When he was 16, Thomas Mapfumo joined his first band as a singer. It was called the Zutu Brothers. After that, he was always part of a band. He played with groups like The Wagon Wheels. Famous musicians like Oliver Mtukudzi and James Chimombe also played with him sometimes.
He often did other jobs, like chicken farming. This led to the name of his 1972 band, the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band. At first, he mostly sang cover songs. These were popular American rock and soul songs by artists like Otis Redding and Elvis Presley.
But with the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band, he started something new. He began to mix traditional Shona music with modern rock instruments. He worked with guitarist Joshua Dube to make the electric guitar sound like the mbira. The mbira is the main instrument in traditional Shona music. He also started singing mostly in the Shona language, instead of English.
Music with a Message
Just using traditional music and singing in his own language was a strong statement. Rhodesia was ruled by a small group of white people. They often looked down on the native Black population and their culture. But Thomas Mapfumo's songs became even more direct.
His lyrics openly supported the fight for freedom that was happening in the rural areas. The Rhodesian government called these areas "communal lands." Thomas called his new music style Chimurenga. In Shona, "Chimurenga" means "struggle" or "war of liberation." It refers to important wars for freedom in Zimbabwe's history. His songs even called for the government to be overthrown. For example, he sang lyrics like "Mothers, send your sons to war."
Speaking Out Through Music
Thomas Mapfumo's music caught the attention of the Rhodesian government. His song "Hokoyo!" means "Watch out!" The government banned this song from state radio. In 1979, they put him in a prison camp without any charges. But they could not stop his songs from being played in clubs or on radio stations they did not control.
Many people protested his arrest. The government could not find any charges against him. So, they had to let him go after three months. In 1980, free elections were held, and a new government took power. Thomas Mapfumo performed at a celebration concert with Bob Marley.
Years later, Thomas Mapfumo began to criticize the same government he had helped bring to power. In 1989, he released an album called Corruption. This album criticized President Mugabe and his government. Thomas Mapfumo became more and more unhappy with the government. President Mugabe was also not happy with Mapfumo.
Thomas Mapfumo faced problems from the government. Things became so difficult that he moved to Eugene, Oregon in the late 1990s. After Mugabe was removed from power in 2017, Thomas Mapfumo returned to Zimbabwe. He played a huge concert called 'Homecoming Bira' in Harare in April 2018. This show proved he was safe from political danger. He returned for more shows in Zimbabwe between December 2018 and March 2019. After four months, he went back to his home in the United States.
Thomas Mapfumo still travels around the world to perform. He continues to sing and speak out about the challenges facing Zimbabwe. His Chimurenga music style has inspired other Zimbabwean musicians. These include the Bhundu Boys and Stella Chiweshe.
Music Albums (Discography)
- Shumba (1990, Earthworks)
Thomas Mapfumo and the Acid Band
- Hokoyo! (1978, Chimurenga Music)
Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited
- Gwindingwi Rine Shumba (1981, Chimurenga Music)
- Mabasa (1983, Chimurenga Music, Gramma Records)
- Ndangariro (1983, Afro Soul)
- Chimurenga For Justice (1985, Rough Trade)
- Mr Music (Africa) (1985, Afro Soul)
- Zimbabwe Mozambique (1988, Chimurenga Music)
- Chamunorwa (1989, Chimurenga Music)
- Varombo Kuvarombo (1989, Chimurenga Music)
- Corruption (1989, Mango)
- Chimurenga Masterpiece (1990, Chimurenga Music)
- Hondo (1991, Chimurenga Music)
- Chimurenga International (1993, Chimurenga Music)
- Chimurenga Varieties (1994, Chimurenga Music)
- Roots Chimurenga (1996, Chimurenga Music)
- Sweet Chimurenga (1996, Chimurenga Music)
- Afro Chimurenga (1996, Chimurenga Music)
- Chimurenga '98 (1998, Anonymous Web Productions)
- Live at El Rey (1999, Anonymous Web Productions)
- Chimurenga Explosion (2000, Anonymous Web Productions)
- Chimurenga Rebel (2002, Anonymous Web Productions)
- Rise Up (2005, digital download; 2006, Real World Records)
- Exile (2010, Sheer Sound)
- Danger Zone (2015, Chimurenga Music Company)
- Live @ The Sanctuary for Independent Media (2016, Chimurenga Music)
- Ndikutambire (2023, Chimurenga Music Company)
See also
- Afropop
- Chimurenga
- Music of Zimbabwe
- Chimurenga music
- Political prisoner
