FT. LAUDERDALE – They say that outspoken musician Thomas Mapfumo is better known in Zimbabwe than the country’s president.
As he faced more and more limitations on his own musical freedom (he has been jailed and his songs banned from Zimbabwe’s state-dominated radio and press), Mapfumo moved to America.
But according to CalabashMusic.com founder Brad Powell, “When Mapfumo returns to his homeland to perform, the people shout along at the concerts to his outspoken lyrics. They could never do this in the streets. He gives them permission to speak freely.” Mapfumo continues to record incendiary music, to have it banned, and until recently, to return to Zimbabwe and play for his loyal fans, risking arrest and harassment each time.
In 2005, Thomas concluded it was no longer safe to go to . But although in exile, he remains engaged, and passionately creative. His new release, Rise Up, (now out on Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records), is a tour de force musically, and full of enough political barbs that it has, once again, earned the honor of being banned on Zimbabwean state radio.
For all the darkness that surrounds him, Mapfumo remains peaceful, buoyant personality, in love with life, laughter, and music. He owns a soccer team, the Sporting Lions, all boys from Mbare, and scrappy on the field.
Mapfumo has lost many great musicians to AIDS and other calamities, but his band remains as strong as ever, forever replenished with young musicians eager to contribute to the legend. Zimbabweans affectionately call him “Mukanya,” a reference to his family totem, the baboon, and even as they are seduced by the latest hip-hop and ragga, they remain attuned to Mukanya’s latest deep mbira anthems, rollicking township dance grooves, and refracted glimmers of reggae, R&B, and African jazz. Few bandleaders in Africa , or anywhere, have been so consistently relevant to the lives of their people as Thomas Mapfumo.
New CD
Fans of world music, African jazz, rock, reggae and classic R&B alike appreciate the powerful melodies of outspoken Zimbabwe musician, Thomas Mapfumo.
His new release, Rise Up, is a tour de force musically, and continues the political and cultural crusades that have gotten both him and his music banned in Zimbabwe.
A joyous combination of musical styles… from hip-hop to township groove…he’s created an exciting new genre all his own called “Chimurenga.” Few bandleaders anywhere have been so relevant to the lives of their people as this self-styled “poet of the righteous,” and few will deliver such a moving musicial event.
South Florida Performance
Mapfumo will be in South Florida performing “Live” at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, October 21, 8:30pm. For tickets and more information visit, www.browardcenter.org.
