Chimurenga Forever

Thomas Mapfumo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 23, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005H1Y
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #263,865 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #51 in Music > World Music > Africa > Zimbabwe

Track Listings

1. Serevende

2. Mhondoro

3. Vanhu Vatema

4. Nyoka Musango

5. Zvandivivinga

6. Hanzvadzi

7. Hwahwa

8. Nyarara Mukadzi Wangu

9. Zvenyika

10. Hondo

11. Ndavekuenda

12. Shumba

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mapfumo: Timeless and ethereal to downright silly, February 28, 2000

By 

Stephen Foster (Seattle, WA United States, via Scotland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chimurenga Forever (Audio CD)

I first heard Thomas Mapfumo while walking past a store that was using "Zvandiviringa" (track 5, here) as sonic wallpaper. It stopped me in my tracks.

Mapfumo's music is rooted in the ancient Shona culture of Zimbabwe, and his music and lyrics were a rallying focus in the slow revolution that eventually toppled the all-white Rhodesian government (the lyrics were written in an almost-unbreakable code -- the Shona language -- so for a long time, his subversion went unnoticed by the authorities).

However, you don't need to know anything about Zimbabwe or the Shona culture to love this music. You can hardly tell from the scratchy sound samples, but most of these tracks are similar in lilt to reggae. One slow track, "Hondo" is alone worth the price of admission, as is "Zvandiviringa." Listen carefully to the samples and you can also hear the gorgeous, African-style lead guitar work.

This album gives a varied selection of Mapfumo's work, which makes it fairly good choice for your first Mapfumo album, and it contains no dud tracks (unlike most of his other albums), however, if you think you'll only ever buy one of his albums, I would instead recommend "Chamunorwa" (which seems to be currently out of print, unfortunately).

Two more reasons to try Mapfumo's music: 1) Zimbabwe is in desparate financial straits, so you will be engaging in international relief, and 2) small children LOVE it. My 3 year-old constantly demands his "daka" music, and dances himself silly to it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent collection, May 14, 2000

By 

Marc Peverini (Burlington, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chimurenga Forever (Audio CD)

An excellent Thomas Mapfumo disc. His music is different from that of the Bhundu Boys or the Four Brothers, as it is calmer (for lack of a better word). Track 12, Shumba, is one I found to be particularly good, as is Track 1, Servende. The CD contains only good tracks and I would definitely recommend this album, along with the Four Brothers (The Best of the Four Borthers, Makorokoto) and Bhundu Boys (True Jit) to others seeking great music from Zimbabwe.

(The Four Brothers' Best of... album is absolutely fantastic. It is the best CD I own. It is beyond excellent....)

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get it!!..PERIOD, August 2, 2001

By 

skiptomalu (Long Island via Nigeria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chimurenga Forever (Audio CD)

First I am not from Zimbabwe..but I love the Cd so much That even though it was recently stolen out of my car when thieves broke in and carted my stereo cd player away.. I have reordered this compilation along with my Best of Best fela that was taken as well...(sniffle sniffle...Damn these American rogues!!!... I hope they become African music fans though after they (hopefully)..llisten to the stolen cds)