Welcome To Zamrock! Vol.1

Repressed! How Zambia’s Liberation Led To A Rock Revolution. 1972-1977

By the mid-1970s, the Southern African nation known as the Republic of Zambia had fallen on hard times. Though the

country’s first president Kenneth Kaunda had thrown off the yoke of British colonialism, the new federation found itself

under his self-imposed, autocratic rule. Conflict loomed on all sides of this landlocked nation. Kaunda protected Zambia

from war, but his country descended into isolation and poverty.

This is the environment in which the ’70s rock revolution that has come to be known as Zamrock flourished. Fuzz guitars

were commonplace, as were driving rhythms as influenced by James Brown’s funk as Jimi Hendrix’s rock predominated.

Musical themes, mainly sung in the country’s constitutional language, English, were often bleak.

In present day Zambia, Zamrock markers were few. Only a small number of the original Zamrock godfathers that remained

in the country survived through the late ’90s. AIDS decimated this country, and uncontrollable inflation forced the Zambian

rockers that could afford to flee into something resembling exile. This was not a likely scene to survive - but it did. Welcome

To Zamrock!, presented in two volumes, is an overview of its most beloved ensembles, and a trace of its arc from its

ascension, to its fall, to its resurgence.

A1. Ngozi Family - Hi Babe

A2. Musi-O-Tunya - Musi-O-Tunya

A3. WITCH - You Better Know (Original Version)

A4. Blackfoot - Running

B1. Dr. Footswitch - Everyday Has Got A New Dream

B2. Chrissy Zebby Tembo - Born Black

B3. Salty Dog - Fast

B4. Teddy Chisi - Funky Lady

C1. Crossbones - Rain & Sunshine

C2. Born Free - I Don't Know

C3. The Five Revolutions - Fwe Bena Zambia

C4. Amanaz - Khala My Friend (Reverb Version)

D1. Ricky Banda - Who's That Guy

D2. Machine Gunners - Changa Namwele

D3. Keith Mlevhu - Dzikolino Ni Zambia

D4. Cosmos Zani - Poverty