Zimbabwean urban popular music style. In the Shona language of the Republic of Zimbabwe chimurenga means ‘fighting in which everyone joins’ but has also been used to mean ‘liberation war’. After UDI (1965), the liberation war waged by ZANU and ZAPU guerrillas from Mozambique and Zambia intensified. In the 1970s a new form of urban music developed in Zimbabwe, drawing together the traditional harmonic patterns of the mbira and elements of earlier Zimbabwean and South African popular guitar styles. The song texts in Shona often transmitted secret messages about the liberation war (chimurenga) and the new music became associated with the struggle for liberation from the regime of Ian Smith and the Rhodesian settlers. Thomas Mapfumo was important in the early development of chimurenga music, and during the late 1970s and early 1980s many other performers became involved in the new music, notably Oliver Mutukudzi.
After Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, chimurenga music became ‘common currency’ and its popularity spread into Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. Thomas Mapfumo's style began to be termed ‘traditional’, while others such as Oliver Mutukudzi assimilated contemporary trends such as reggae. In some records which were released shortly after 1980, episodes from the liberation war were recounted; during the song Take Cover, performed by the William Dube Jairos Jiri Sunrise Kwela Band, someone shouts ‘Take cover!’ and the drummer imitates machine-gun fire. This song gained enormous popularity during 1982 and versions of it were performed by many musicians, some of whom used more ‘traditional’ instruments. Chimurenga music became recognized as a distinctive style within the panorama of southern African popular music, and during the 1990s many recordings were produced in Zimbabwe by Leonard Zhebata, Simon Chimbetu and Leonard Dembo.
J. Sherman: ‘Songs of Chimurenga’, Africa Perspective, no. 16 (1980), 80–88
A.J.C. Pongweni: Songs that Won the Liberation War (Harare, 1982)
F. Zindi: Roots Rocking in Zimbabwe (Gweru, 1985)
W. Bender: Sweet Mother: Modern African Music (Chicago and London, 1991)
K. Goddard: ‘The Soul of Mbira – Twenty Years On: a Retrospect’, African Music, vii/3 (1996), 76–90
Africa, perf. Oliver and the Black Spirits, Gallo Kudzanayi BL 241 (1980)
Mabasa, perf. T. Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, Earthworks/Rough Trade ERT 1007 (1984)
Greatest Hits, perf. T. Mapfumo, Afro Soul ASLP 5001
Zimbabwe Success, WOW Music ZIM 69 [incl. ‘Gunguwo’, perf. T. Zihute]
MOYA ALIYA MALAMUSI