Bhundu Boys
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The Bhundu Boys were a Zimbabwean band that played a mixture of chimurenga music with American rock and roll, disco and pop influences. Their style became known as jit, and is quite popular across Africa, with some international success.
Bhundu (meaning "Bush" or "jungle"), gave its name to the young boys who used to aid the nationalist guerilla fighters in the 1970s war against the white minority government. Lead singer Biggie Tembo (Biggie Rodwell Tembo Marasha) was just such a Bhundu boy.
The Bhundu Boys recorded their first 7" vinyl single at Shed Studios in Harare on 1st February 1983, as part of the Studio's drive to sponsor more local music. They were one of a number of more adventurous bands that had not been contracted by the 2 record companies. Shed Studios was a collaboration between Steve Roskilly, Martin Norris and Bothwell Nyamhondera. The Bhundu Boys reached the top of the Zimbabwean music scene, with four number one hits ("Baba munini Francis", "Wenhamo haaneti", "Hatisitose", and "Tsvimbodzemoto") between 1981 and 1984. They attracted the attention of Gordon Muir, a Scottish concert promoter and his colleague, musician Champion Doug Veitch, who released an EP by the band in the UK in 1985. This attracted the attention of DJ's John Peel and Andy Kershaw who tirelessly promoted the band. Their album Shabini was released in 1986 and was one of the major independent sellers of the year, and one of Peel's all time favourite albums.
After touring the UK for a year, the band appeared to be on the brink of a major commercial breakthrough. They were feted by Eric Clapton and Elvis Costello and Madonna asked them to be her support act at Wembley Stadium where they played to 240,000 people over three nights.
The Bhundu Boys signed to Warner Brothers International, but 1987's Robin Millar produced True Jit was unfavourably received and the band began to fall apart. Leader Biggie Tembo was asked to leave the band in 1990. The band continued in the 1990s but David Mankaba, his replacement Shepherd Munyama, and Shakespeare Kangwena, all died of AIDS. Biggie Tembo hanged himself in 1995 after a spell in psychiatric hospital. The band soldiered on, recording two more albums, before calling it quits in 2000 after bassist Washington Kavhai was jailed on an aggravated assault conviction.
Guitarist Rise Kagona currently lives in Scotland and plays in Culture Clash with Champion Doug Veitch. Kuda Matimba lives in London and plays with Harare, a group he started in 2005 together with Kenny Chitsvatsva.
[edit] Discography
- Chekudya Chose (Rugare, 1983)
- Hupenyu Hwangu (Rugare 1984)
- Shabini (DiscAfrique, Afrilp02, 1986)
- Tsvimbodzemoto (DiscAfrique, Afrilp03, 1987)
- True Jit (WEA, 1988)
- Pamberi (WEA, 1989)
- Live at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut (DiscAfrique, Afrilp007, 1990)
- Friends on the Road (Cooking Vinyl, 1993)
- Muchiyedza (Cooking Vinyl 1997)
- The Shed Sessions (Sadza, 2001)
[edit] Personnel
- Kenny Chitsvatsva - drums, backing vocals
- David Mankaba - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Rise Kagona - guitar, backing vocals
- Biggie Tembo - guitar, lead vocals
- Shakespeare ("Shakie") Kangwena - keyboard, backing vocals
- Shepherd Munyama, bass guitar, replaced David Mankaba
- Washington Kavhai, bass guitar, vocals, replaced Shepherd
- Kuda Matimba, keyboard, vocals, replaced Shakie
