Repressed! How Zambia’s Liberation Led To A Rock Revolution. 1972-1977
By the mid-1970s, the Southern African nation known as the Republic of Zambia had fallen on hard times. Though the country’s first president Kenneth Kaunda had thrown off the yoke of British colonialism, the new federation found itself under his self-imposed, autocratic rule. Conflict loomed on all sides of this …
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Repressed! How Zambia’s Liberation Led To A Rock Revolution. 1972-1977
By the mid-1970s, the Southern African nation known as the Republic of Zambia had fallen on hard times. Though the country’s first president Kenneth Kaunda had thrown off the yoke of British colonialism, the new federation found itself under his self-imposed, autocratic rule. Conflict loomed on all sides of this landlocked nation. Kaunda protected Zambia from war, but his country descended into isolation and poverty.
This is the environment in which the ’70s rock revolution that has come to be known as Zamrock flourished. Fuzz guitars were commonplace, as were driving rhythms as influenced by James Brown’s funk as Jimi Hendrix’s rock predominated.
Musical themes, mainly sung in the country’s constitutional language, English, were often bleak.
In present day Zambia, Zamrock markers were few. Only a small number of the original Zamrock godfathers that remained in the country survived through the late ’90s. AIDS decimated this country, and uncontrollable inflation forced the Zambian rockers that could afford to flee into something resembling exile. This was not a likely scene to survive - but it did. Welcome To Zamrock!, presented in two volumes, is an overview of its most beloved ensembles, and a trace of its arc from its ascension, to its fall, to its resurgence.
A1. Ngozi Family - Hi Babe
A2. Musi-O-Tunya - Musi-O-Tunya
A3. WITCH - You Better Know (Original Version)
A4. Blackfoot - Running
B1. Dr. Footswitch - Everyday Has Got A New Dream
B2. Chrissy Zebby Tembo - Born Black
B3. Salty Dog - Fast
B4. Teddy Chisi - Funky Lady
C1. Crossbones - Rain & Sunshine
C2. Born Free - I Don't Know
C3. The Five Revolutions - Fwe Bena Zambia
C4. Amanaz - Khala My Friend (Reverb Version)
D1. Ricky Banda - Who's That Guy
D2. Machine Gunners - Changa Namwele
D3. Keith Mlevhu - Dzikolino Ni Zambia
D4. Cosmos Zani - Poverty
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