The African continent has given so much music to the world. From Afrobeat, pioneered by Fela Kuti, to Amapiano, the juggernaut South African House genre, you’re never too far away from sounds coming from Africa that determine the course of popular music. One of the more obscure genres to come out of Africa over the last 50 years is Zamrock. It emerged in Zambia, located in Southern Africa, in the early 1970s. Its a fusion of traditional Zambian music and Rock & Roll, Funk, Psychedelic and Garage Rock. It was taken around the country thanks to artists like WITCH, Amanaz, The Peace, Paul Ngozi and many more.
Though it faded into obscurity by the 1980s, Zamrock has seen a resurgence in popularity. Particularly with the return of WITCH. The band released its first album in nearly 30 years in 2023. This piqued the interest of fans who hadn’t lived through their prime. To celebrate its return to the spotlight, we’ve searched our platform to share some of our favorite mixes from the genre. If you’re new to Zamrock, these mixes are for you.
Capybara – Zamrock!!! A Musical Revolution From Zambia
Athens-based DJ Capybara proves just how much Zamrock has traveled in his hour-long tribute. In it, you can hear from the all stars of the sound. Artists such as WITCH and the Ngozi Family but also tunes by Christy Zemby Tembo, Blackfoot and Dr. Footswitch among others. You can hear the influence of the 1960s era of Rock & Roll loud and clear. But the charisma of each artist is also enough to show just how much Zamrock took on a form of its own.
Galactic Waves – Smoke & Thunder // A “Zamrock!!” Mixtape
Keeping it short and sweet at 25 minutes, South Africa’s Galactic Waves give you a whistle stop tour of Zamrock. It is a wonderfully mixed and curated blend of what the sound offers, from the rowdy headbangers to more mellow grooves.
målib – TRANSAFRICAN BLUE
This mix by målib seamlessly brings together disparate sounds from across the African continent. Zamrock and Ethio-Jazz are in full flow. Tracks by Mulatu Astatke, Amanaz and El Rego showcase, according to målib, “this happy colorful stereotype of African music.”
IS YOUR CLAM IN A JAM? – LUKUNGU: A Rare Zamrock Mixtape
Italian mixtape makers IS YOUR CLAM IN A JAM? recorded this tribute to Zamrock from the speakers of Brilliant Corners, a popular and intimate London music venue. Included are songs by The Tinkles, The 5 Revolutions and Jeff & The Explosives among others, and the mix does a great job of showcasing the sheer musicality coming from this era.
KPISSFM – Zambia Zoomin – 5/7/24
Brooklyn-based radio station KPISSFM welcomed the ‘Zambia Zoomin’ edition of the Gold Rush show in 2024. Its an all-out explosion of Zamrock flavors. Not only are there tracks by the usual suspects but also some deeper cuts by Ukvivwa, The Mulemena Boys, Chiyembekozo & Shiloh Dynasty and more.
Niss Harley – Zamrock Lives!
Though clocking in at just 10 tracks, Niss Harley’s tribute showcases the very best of Zamrock. It aptly kicks off with WITCH’s ‘Introduction’ before digging into some grooves that wouldn’t be out of place in an early Rolling Stones album! Niss even gives a short history lesson about the social and geopolitical conditions that created the genre. Tune in for tracks by Musi-O-Tunya, Rikki Ililonga and Hector Sithole and On Paper.
Oxide Radio – Forgotten Funk Episode 2 – Zamrock
The Instagram page of Forgotten Funk, a radio show on Oxford-based Oxide Radio, reads that it plays “Jazz, Funk, Soul and Blues from underrepresented musical biomes.” The topic of their second episode? You guessed it: Zamrock! With nuggets of Zambian music history to go with it, Forgotten Funk is a great start for those curious about the wonders of the genre.
PJ Gray – Zamrock and More
American curator PJ Gray blends the first revolutionary era of Zamrock in his offering, a mix he describes as being “culled from compilations.” Including the very best of one of the genre’s greatest minds, Rikki Ililonga. His solo work and music from the band with which he gained prominence, Musi-O-Tanya, are included here. Along with other Zambian legends.