Zam On It!

     Half a lifetime ago, I went to Zambia. Twice. The second trip was only for a few hours, a short trek across the bridge that spans the Zambezi to view the Zambian side of Victoria Falls. Before that, in the fall of 1996, I spent several days there, entering at Chirundu on a bus from Harare, and proceeding to Lusaka. After a short stay in the capital, I rode a train north to Kapiri Mposhi, where I was stranded overnight due to a train derailment. The local people at that tiny railway station--the guard, his friends and acquaintances who appeared to turn up just to talk through the night, a prostitute--made me aware of realities I didn't know existed and reminded me I should probably have something like 51% faith in humanity. 

    For all I learned from them, though, why couldn't any have told me about Zamrock? Come on, Kapiri Mposhi strangers, you had one job! Yeah, I realize you had many jobs, but why couldn't that have been one of them? It thus became my unfortunate fate not to discover Zamrock for another two and a half decades. 

    When Zambia gained independence in 1964, new President Kenneth Kaunda promoted ideas of national unity and identity.  He insisted Zambian artists comprise 95% of radio airplay, an awkward directive given that, at the time, the entire nation lacked the technology to record and press albums. Most early Zamrock was made in Nairobi, Kenya. 

    Not all the British returned to the UK following independence and many who stayed were young people enthralled by blues, rock, and R & B. This coincided with an absolute explosion of popular British artists, which, along with Zambian singers from the Copper Belt Region such as William Mapulanga, heavily influenced the sound of 1970s Zamrock. 

    My first exposure to Zamrock was the band WITCH--a phenomenal acronym meaning We Intend To Cause Havoc--and their instrumental "Hometown" remains among my favorites. This week, I've listened twice to the full album (something I'm ashamed to say I rarely do anymore) entitled Africa, a 1975 release by Amanaz. 

    This record contains some undeniable gems. The best known track is probably "Khala My Friend," which has appeared in a few television soundtracks, most notably Ted Lasso. My personal favorite is "Easy Street" with its hypnotic guitar riff, the kind of thing Jimi Hendrix might make if the Meters suddenly turned up at the studio. Of all the songs, "Easy Street" probably makes the best use of lead singer Keith Kabwe's, let's say, peculiar style. The trenchant "History of Man" and instrumental "Green Apple" also stand out. There's also a song entitled "Kale," demonstrating Amanaz's uncanny ability to predict hipster culinary trends 40 years into the future. 

    If the song sequence I heard is consistent with the original release--sources vary--I'll add the minor criticism that the album gets off to a somewhat slow start and saves the more hard driving tracks for later. On the flip side, 1970s pun intended, this provides a rewarding payoff. 

    The upshot is this: listen to Zamrock! Check out every unusual genre or category or style you encounter. Zydeco and Bhangra and Skiffle and Mbaqanga and Glitch Hop. Frankly, I'm still on the fence about lowercase, but maybe I'll channel my inner e. e. cummings one day and get down!