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Thomas Mapfumo: The Lion Roars Tonight
Outside of Zimbabwe, where he is the most revered and famed musical figure
of the past generation, Thomas Mapfumo is something of a cult favorite.
Even many fans of "world music" know little to nothing about him or his
music, yet for many more he is one of the modern legends, right up there
with Fela, Marley, Franco and few others. Wider awareness of Mapfumo has
likely been limited by a combination of the more esoteric flavor [and
languages] of his signature sound, combined with consistent frustrations
with the business and distribution side of his career. Yet through decades
of struggles both political and financial, Mapfumo has soldiered on and
consistently released music uncompromising in vision and statement...
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And the band plays on... Jamaica's Alpha Boys' School
Band practice at the Alpha Boys' School, a resedential vocational school in
Kingston, Jamaica, begins at 8AM with marching drills. On a bright September
day, 24 junior- and high-school-age boys are lined up outdoors in three rows
of eight on Alpha's "parade grounds," a 40-by-40 foot space behind the cafeteria.
Instruments are lying on chairs, waiting to be played and bandmaster Winston
"Sparrow" Martin is calling out the commands...
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The Experts Pick... The Best of 2003
Our contentious panel of experts was all over the map with its choices,
but when the dust settled it was the Congolese rumba revival that carried
the year. 5 or more picks each for: Kekele, Congo Life, Sam Mangwana,
Cantos de Esperança, Festival in the Desert and Africando,
Martina...
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