简介： by J. PoetThomas Mapfumo made revolutionary changes in Zimbabwes pop-music scene by recording a song for which hed written his own music. B 更多>
by J. PoetThomas Mapfumo made revolutionary changes in Zimbabwes pop-music scene by recording a song for which hed written his own music. Before Mapfumo, songs in the traditional style were always based on tunes that had been handed down for generations. Mapfumos music, chimurenga (music of struggle), became popular during the civil war against White minority rule, but his popularity made the government unhappy. In 1977 he was sent to a prison camp for subversion. To obtain his release, Mapfumo agreed to perform for the ruling party, but at the concert he sang only his most revolutionary songs. I told them that since Id been in detention, I didnt have time to write new ones. Mapfumo grew up in the country, went to a British colonial school, and worked as a herd boy, watching over the cattle. After hearing the Beatles and Wilson Pickett in the early 60s, Mapfumo taught himself guitar and started a band that played pop music from African countries as well as Beatles, Rolling Stones, funk, and soul. Mapfumo left Western music behind to form the Acid Band. Their first album, Hokoyo (Beware), contained the songs that led to Mapfumpos detention. After Zimbabwes liberation in 1978, Mapfumo formed Blacks Unlimited and released Gwindingwe Rine Shumba (Lion in the Bush), a joyous celebration of his countrys independence. Jumbo Van Renen, the president of Earthworks Records, arranged to put out Mapfumos music in England; when Van Renen later became CEO of Island Records in the UK, he signed Mapfumo again, this time to an international recording contract.
