Bhundu Boys | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Zimbabwe |
| Genres | Jit, chimurenga |
| Years active | 1983–2000 |
| Labels | Rugare (Zimbabwe), Discafrique Mango/Island/PolyGram Records |
| Past members | Biggie Tembo (died 1995) Rise Kagona (died 2024) Kenny Chitsvatsva David Mankaba (died 1991) Shakespear "Shakie" Kangwena (died 1993) Shepherd Munyama (died 1992) Washington Kavhai Kudaushe Matimba |
The Bhundu Boys were a Zimbabwean band that played a mixture of chimurenga music with American rock and roll, disco, country, and pop influences. Their style became known as jit, and is quite popular across Africa, with some international success, and has influenced later groups like Nehoreka and Mokoomba. British world music DJ Andy Kershaw said that at the height of their magical powers they were "...the single most natural, effortless, catchy pop band I've ever heard";[1] the BBC's John Peel famously broke down in tears the first time he saw the band perform live.[2]
The name came from bhundu (meaning "bush" or "jungle"), in reference to the young boys who used to aid the nationalist guerrilla fighters in the 1970s war against the white minority government of what was then Rhodesia.[3] Lead singer Biggie Tembo (Biggie Rodwell Tembo Marasha) was a Bhundu boy.