The history of Zimbabwean music is incomplete without mentioning arguably one of the most pivotal and impactful eras ever. Some like to refer to this time as the urban grooves era and some simply call it “pakauya vapfanha vemaCD”. As big as this movement was there is a huge fog around what it represents, this is seen in the many debates that surround the legacy of this era and it doesn’t help that no one was writing anything as this part of our history was unfolding. At the centre of this time however is Chamhembe, it’s the peak of what this era embodies. In this 5-part series SoProfound interviews some of the key people who made Chamhembe. Prepare for a front-row seat to one of the most impactful moments in Zimbabwean music history. Exciting never heard before stories, the history, influences and insight into some of the moments that shaped Zimbabwean urban music as we now know it.
Includes interviews from Leonard Mapfumo, Roki, Stunner, Take 5 and more…
The series is produced by Intentionally Daring in collaboration with Tnash Creative Studio.
The Chamhembe Story | Episode 1- The Stunner Interview
The Chamhembe Story | Episode 2- The Leonard Mapfumo Interview
The Chamhembe Story | Episode 3- The Mafriq Interview
The Chamhembe Story | Episode 4- The Tererai Interview
The Chamhembe Story | Episode 5- The Roki Interview
The Chamhembe Story | Episode 6- The Take 5 Interview
The Chamhembe Story | Episode 7 – The Kevie(Trinity) Interview
“Mazvita, which means “thank you” in the Shona language of Zimbabwe, is a song that bridges cultures,” says Draze. “The song transports listeners from a typical hood in America to a typical city or village in Zimbabwe and is a personal “thank you” to my mother, father, grandparents and the communities who raised me in both Africa and America.
Draze says that he plays marimba on the track as a way to honor his late father. “In my eyes, my father was the greatest Marimba player ever. I play the instrument in salute to him, and my mother, Lora Chiorah. Actually having my mother and sister, Danai Maraire, sing on the track really added the traditional element,” shares Draze.
In the music video, Draze uses clever visuals to display the duality of being African and American. “With the video, I want to inspire black people around the world to see themselves also as African, and to see one another as family. When we get to that point we will truly be unstoppable,” states Draze. “From the Lyricism to the storytelling, to the cultural vibes and raw 808 drums, this track is the purest form of Ancestral Art.”