Where singer and guitarist Thomas Mapfumo is concerned, Washington is a wonderful place to perform; but more importantly, a place where he is free to do so. Mapfumo has been a witness to bloody years in his native Zimbabwe’s history, growing up in the thick of the country’s fight for liberation and further witnessing the economic and political mayhem under dictatorship. His weapon against the injustices hurled at his people is his music.
“Ours is music with a very great message [and] we sing in our native language!” he said.
| Onstage |
| Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited |
| Where: Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW |
| When: 6 p.m. Saturday |
| Info: Free, 1-800-444-1324, kennedy-center.org |
Known as “The Lion of Zimbabwe” for his countrywide popularity, Mapfumo both created and made popular Chimurenga music, which from his traditional Shona lifestyle means “struggle.” His music has been a clever adaptation of traditional Shona to modern rock instrumentation. His songs, which decried the violent overthrow of the government, were banned from the airwaves.
When he felt it was no longer safe to remain in Zimbabwe, he and his family immigrated to the United States in 2004, where he and the band, the Blacks Unlimited, spend much of the year based in Eugene, Ore.
On Saturday night at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited will treat audiences to the native sounds from their latest CD “Exile.”
In addition to Mapfumo on guitar, the band members include Chris Muchabaiwa (bass), Gilbert Zvamaida (guitar), Lancelot Mapfumo (keys and congas), Denali Williams (drums), James Williams (trumpet), Mike Moynihan (saxophone) and finally, Chaka Mhembere playing the mbira.
“The mbira is a piano played with the thumbs and is a traditional [Shona] percussion instrument,” Mapfumo explained.
He also noted that there is never a day when he doesn’t hope to return to Zimbabwe. In the meantime, it is about the message of the music, the music that speaks for the people whose voices have been silenced.
“Thomas is very passionate about his music and is writing new material all the time,” said his agent, Lisa Walters. “His music and his words are timeless. His message is, enjoy your freedom and all that life brings you because not all people have that privilege.”
