After almost four decades of obscurity, the influential Zambian psychedelic rock band WITCH is making a comeback with their latest album.
The driving force behind the band’s revival is 71-year-old lead vocalist Emmanuel ‘Jagari’ Chanda, who aims to bring the little-known genre of Zamrock music to international recognition.
Interest in Zamrock has been growing in the West since the 2010s, with the help of the internet and crate-digging producers. Los Angeles-based Now-Again Records has re-released several albums by WITCH and other Zamrock artists.
“It sparked interest and curiosity among people, especially in America and Europe,” Chanda said at an old studio in the capital city of Lusaka.
Following their comeback, WITCH, which stands for We Intend To Cause Havoc, is introducing their new album ‘Zango’ with live performances in the United States and Europe.
Chanda explains that the band was heavily influenced by radio music and sought to play contemporary Western music, resulting in a unique Zambian version of rock-n-roll.
“It’s a fusion of traditional music, African music, funk, blues, and jazz – a blend of many genres,” Chanda said.
Zamrock declined in the mid-1980s due to an economic downturn, political instability, and the harsh impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Zambia.
The band relocated to Zimbabwe and later to Botswana before disbanding in 1985. Chanda left while the band was still in Zimbabwe and pursued a career as a teacher and later as a gemstone miner, nearly giving up on his dreams of making it big in the music industry.
In 2019, Chanda reunited with former keyboardist Patrick Mwondela and a few European musicians to bring WITCH back together.
Music producer Michael Linyama, who assisted in recording ‘Zango,’ couldn’t contain his excitement.
“It’s like a dream come true… I have always wanted our music to be heard out there,” he said.
Chanda hopes that the newfound fame from their comeback can generate enough income to establish a music school and a world-class recording studio in Zambia.
“Can this grow to a point where when someone visits Zambia, they ask, ‘Where can I listen to Zamrock? Are there still bands playing Zamrock?’ That’s the kind of legacy I would like to leave,” Chanda expressed his aspirations.
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