Thomas Mapfumo |
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Thu. May 18.2000 8:47 AM EDT |
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Thomas Mapfumo, 'Lion Of Zimbabwe,' To TourZimbabwe singer-songwriter and Blacks Unlimited band begin U.S. tour in July. by Correspondent Mikel Toombs |
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Thomas Mapfumo's music has sometimes been banned in Zimbabwe. (Dirk Vandenberk) |
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Trailblazing Zimbabwe singer-songwriter Thomas Mapfumo and his music-and-dance troupe, the Blacks Unlimited, have announced a series of European and North American dates. Their
Revered as the "Lion of Zimbabwe," Mapfumo has been a musical and political pioneer for more than two decades. When local musicians were content to play cover versions of pop tunes, he translated the traditional mbira (thumb piano) music of his Shona people to the guitar, adding soul (notably Wilson Pickett) influences. Mapfumo's most recent album, Live at El Rey (1999), returned him unusually close to his roots; the album, recorded in 1995 in Albuquerque, N.M., features only vocals, mbiras, bass and drums. The chart-topping Mapfumo may find himself first in the hearts of his countrymen, but he hasn't fared so well with his government. His chimurenga (music of struggle), inspired in no small part by reggae-great Bob Marley, has gotten him detained or banned on several occasions. In fact, his current album, Chimurenga Explosion, due in the States on June 6, includes two songs banned by Zimbabwe radio, "Mamvemve" ("Tattered Rags") (RealAudio excerpt) and "Disaster" (RealAudio excerpt). Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited tour dates: June 23; Bradford, UK; Bradford Festival June 30; Cologne, Germany; Summer Jam Festival July 1; Leicester, UK; De Montfort Hall July 6; Norwich, UK; Norwich Arts Centre July 9; Brugge, Belgium; Cactus Festival July 13; New York, N.Y.; S.O.B.'s July 15; Chicago, Ill.; Hot House July 16; Chicago, Ill.; Old Town School of Folk July 22; Trumansburg, N.Y.; Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival Aug. 10; Santa Monica, Calif.; Santa Monica Pier Aug. 11; Santa Cruz, Calif.; Palookaville Aug. 12; San Jose, Calif.; San Jose Jazz Festival Aug. 13; Portland, Ore.; Taste of Portland Aug. 17; Eugene, Ore.; W.O.W. Hall Aug. 18; Calgary, Alberta; African Festival |
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