In August 1987, a Zimbabwean band walked onto the stage at Wembley Stadium in London to open for Madonna. The Bhundu Boys had come a long way from the townships of Harare.
The Bhundu Boys formed in 1980, the year of Zimbabwe’s independence. Their name refers to the bush, a nod to the young fighters and helpers of the liberation war. They played jit, a fast, upbeat dance music with interlocking guitars influenced by the rhythms of the mbira and by Congolese rumba.
The sound
Led by singer Biggie Tembo and guitarist Rise Kagona, the band played with infectious energy. Their songs, sung mostly in Shona, were catchy and joyful, with sparkling guitar lines and driving drums. They became stars in Zimbabwe with hits such as “Hatisitose”.
Britain
In 1986, the band travelled to Britain, where they toured small venues and built a word-of-mouth following. The BBC DJ John Peel became a devoted fan, playing their music on his radio show and recording sessions with them. Their albums Shabini and Tsvimbodzemoto were released in Britain and praised by critics.
Madonna
In 1987, the Bhundu Boys were chosen to open for Madonna at Wembley Stadium during her Who’s That Girl tour, playing to tens of thousands of people. They signed with a major label, WEA, and recorded albums aimed at a wider pop audience.
Decline
Success did not last. Their major-label albums, with English lyrics and polished production, disappointed fans who loved their raw sound. Biggie Tembo left the band and later died by suicide in 1995. Several other members died of AIDS-related illnesses in the 1990s, a period when HIV devastated Zimbabwe.
Legacy
The Bhundu Boys remain a symbol of the excitement African music generated in Britain in the 1980s. John Peel continued to speak of them as one of his favourite bands. Rise Kagona kept the band’s name alive with later line-ups.
Jit
Jit, sometimes called jiti, grew out of village dance music and township bands in Zimbabwe, and the Bhundu Boys became its best-known ambassadors. Its fast tempo and sweet guitar lines made it a natural fit for dance floors in Britain.
Listening
Start with Shabini, their first British release, to hear the band at its most joyful.
They went from township halls to Wembley in seven years. Their music still sounds like the first days of a new country.
