Two decades after their initial foray into Zimbabwean music, Analog Africa revisits the fertile grounds where their crate-digging journey commenced. “Roots Rocking Zimbabwe – The Modern Sound of Harare’ Townships 1975-1980” unearths 25 gems, showcasing the vibrant sounds of Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo, The Green Arrows, New Tutenkhamen, Harare Mambos, and a host of other artists.
“Shanga Yangu,” the latest album single, showcases the enduring legacy of Harare Mambos. They were one of the longest-lasting and most consistent bands in Zimbabwean music history, active from the mid-1950s to the late 1990s, and also became the first local band to appear on white-dominated television in 1960s Rhodesia (as Zimbabwe was known then). At the time, the presenter referred to them as “this band”, carefully refusing to mention the name Harare, which, at the time, was the name of the Mbare township (the city of Salisbury only becoming known as Harare after Zimbabwean independence in 1980). Although the band played popular hits by Westem bands – the ‘copyright’ music – they also recorded a number of original compositions during the 1960s and 1970s. In order to avoid censorship, their lyrics often centred around social themes but excluded politics.
Album Trailer:
‘Roots Rocking Zimbabwe – The Modern Sound of Harare’ Townships 1975-1980′ is released on May 2nd, 2025, on Analog Africa (Double LP/CD/Digital/Streaming).
Pre-Order via Bandcamp: https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/album/roots-rocking-zimbabwe-the-modern-sound-of-harare-townships-1975-1980-analog-africa-no-41