But Thomas Mapfumo is nothing if not a survivor, ans as the end of the year approached , and it was getting time for him to go back and play his traditional year-end chows in Harare, he rallied his forces to create one of his most dynamic and soulful recordings ever. Mapfumo called upon his former drummer Sam Mukanga (who since died of AIDS, in May 2002), and trombonist Willard Kalanga. They came from Zimbabwe along with a talented backing singer, Felistas Bisiwasi. He then recruited a talented young American saxaphonist named David Rhodes, who topped one of the most powerful brass destions the Blacks Unlimited has ever seen. After a year of rehersals and shows, Zivai Guveya had grown into the demanding role of lead guitarist. In Harare, Mapfumo and his band were received as heroes. They played to 10,000 people on New Year's Eve. With this recording Thomas Mapfumo has made a gift to those living in Zimbabwe that they won't soon forget.]]>Manhungetunge (2000)http://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_18122005-04-12T10:55:32ZMusic from Manhungetunge (2000)In the summer of 2000, Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited returned to the United States for another tour. Mapfumo was worried enough about the future that he had made plans to move his family to the United States for the forseeable future. When the tour ended he joined them in his new home in Eugene, Oregon. This album was recorded in Eugene. As with all Thomas Mapfumo albums, 'Manhungetunge' is packed with with hard-hitting social and political commentary. 'Big in America' and 'Mangoma' take different approaches to delivering a familiar Mapfumo message, that young Zimbabweans mustn't lose their own culture in the enthusiasm for foreign things. The selection here includes two remakes of older songs, the playful traditional song, 'Chemutengure,' and Mapfumo's first chimurenga single, the defiant 'Pammuromo Chete,' which sadly remains just as relevant as when he first recorded it in 1978. ]]>Live at El Reyhttp://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_18322005-04-12T10:55:32ZMusic from Live at El ReyThe first live release from Mapfumo, recorded on his 50th birthday and featuring a stripped-down version of the Blacks Unlimited. Mapfumo's spiritual Shona pop has never sounded like this. This spacious set delivers chimurenga (struggle) music redux, and proves that less is more. Two mbiras, iron-pronged hand pianos, do most of the leg work here, aided melodically only by one of Africa's most rock solid bass players, Allan Mwale, who unfortunately died this fall. Mwale's limber lines marry the spidery mbira parts with Sam Mukanga's artful drumming. With no horns, guitars, keyboards or backup singers to clutter, Mapfumo delivers spare, honest renditions of classics ("Hwahwa," "Pfumvu Paruzevha") and also pillars of the traditional mbira repertoire ("Mahororo" "Nyama Musango.") Only, "Chikende," a song built around guitar and horn lines, falls short in this setting. If you have ever been moved by one of Mapfumo's many recordings or concert appearances, you owe it to yourself to hear this set. This is ground zero for one of the most original and enduring sounds in African pop. -- Banning Eyre]]>Mr. Musichttp://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_19642005-04-12T10:55:32ZMusic from Mr. MusicReleased in 1985 in Zimbabwe, Mr. Music is Mapfumo's 5th album. Among it's most popular tunes is the hit, "Maria", which Thomas continues to perform in live shows even today.]]>Mabasahttp://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_19762005-04-12T10:55:32ZMusic from MabasaFrom 1984, the 4th release from Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, as well as one of Mukanya's personal favorites. Mabasa means "work" in Shona.]]>Sweet Chimurengahttp://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_19902005-04-12T10:55:32ZMusic from Sweet ChimurengaSweet Chimurenga is the 14th album from Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited. Recorded in 1994, it finds the band in a period of transition… Thomas Mapfumo recruited a number of new musicians. The year before, he had called on one of his earliest collaborators, Joshua Dube, to replace lead guitarist Ephraim Karimaura, who had died near the end of 1993. Sweet Chimurenga also features guitarist Ashton "Sugar" Chiweshe, a longtime contributor to Blacks Unlimted recordings. As to the rhythm section, Mapfumo called on another old friend and colleague to spell the ailing Makokova on bass. Allan Mwale had been the bassist in The Springfields, a cover band in which Thomas sang rock 'n' roll songs during the 1960s.]]>Zimbawe Mozambiquehttp://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_18482005-04-12T10:55:32ZMusic from Zimbawe MozambiqueZimbabwe/Mozambique is as close to a concept album as Mapfumo has ever made. All its songs somehow comment on the dire circumstances of war.]]>Chimurenga '98http://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_18782005-04-12T10:55:32ZMusic from Chimurenga '98Chimurenga '98 extends chimurenga to embrace other musical styles. From the opening track till the very last, Mapfumo, backed by his perennial Blacks Unlimited, cook up a storm.]]>Chimurenga Explosionhttp://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_19262005-04-12T10:55:32ZMusic from Chimurenga ExplosionNzira inoenda kupi? Where does the path lead? For Thomas, despite great obstacles, it has led to control of the rights to his many recordings, and as such, a secure future for his family, and the extended family of the band. Thomas' personal struggle to live through his music has perennially mirrored his country's struggle for its own freedom, which in turn has mirrored most of Africa's, and much of the world's.]]>Roots Chimurengahttp://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_18602005-04-12T10:55:32ZMusic from Roots ChimurengaWith Roots Chimurenga, Mapfumo returns to the sound that made him famous: mbira pop.]]>Chimurenga Movementhttp://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_19042005-04-12T10:55:32ZMusic from Chimurenga MovementWhen Mapfumo went into the studio in 1997 to record this, Zimbabwe was in a sorry state. [This] is a really political record,' says Mapfumo. Musically, Chimurenga Movement is complex fusion of styles. It contains no ancient mbira songs, although 'Jaja Mujakacha' is a traditional song adapted to mbira. The Blacks Unlimited's three-man mbira section creates the underpinning for all these diverse grooves, from the chugging lope of 'Vanotsenga Mukanwa' to the breathless jaunt of 'Erina.']]>Chimurenga Masterpiecehttp://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_19522005-04-12T10:55:32ZMusic from Chimurenga Masterpiece"To the people of the world, especially to the people of Zimbabwe who have stood by our side and supported the struggle of our music for the past fourteen years, we say never get tired until the final victory. Forward with the people's culture, forward with the music of Zimbabwe, long live the people of Zimbabwe." -- Thomas Mapfumo]]>Choice Chimurengahttp://thomasmapfumo.bootsnallmusic.com/#album_436132006-11-17T07:12:16ZMusic from Choice Chimurenga]]>