Zamrock

Zamrock
Stylistic origins	Rock, Funk
Cultural origins	1970s, Copperbelt, Lusaka
Derivative forms	Western

Zamrock (Zambian rock) is a music genre derivative of Western psychedelic rock re-innovated by Zambian youth in the early 1970s. It was a psychedelic period marked by social upheavals, flares, fluorescent colours, flamboyant hairstyles, generational differences, and powerful music.

History

Zamrock emerged in Zambia as a dual influence of Jimi Hendrix's psychedelic rock and James Brown's funk. Later, many of the Zamrock bands were highly influenced by the heavy repetitive riffs of bands like Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer and Cream. Rikki Ililonga & Musi-O-Tunya are generally credited as the creators of this music genre. Other notable artists include The Witch, The Peace, Amanaz, Chrissy "Zebby" Tembo, Paul Ngozi and his Ngozi Family among others.

Zamrock's roots can be traced back to the 1950s with northern singers from the Copperbelt Province such as Stephen Tsotsi Kasumali, William Mapulanga and John Lushi.

Influence

Zamrock came to embody the economic despair that followed the 1973-1974 oil crisis, which flung Zambia into recession and exacerbated a wide range of social tensions. The music style also captured the controversy of wider politics in Africa and the world.