15 Facts About Thomas Mapfumo

Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo was born on July 3,1945 and is a Zimbabwean musician.

Thomas Mapfumo is nicknamed "The Lion of Zimbabwe" and "Mukanya" for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his music, including his sharp criticism of the government of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.

Thomas Mapfumo both created and popularized Chimurenga music, and is known for his distinctive voice and slow-moving style.

Thomas Mapfumo lived in exile in the United States for two decades, and in April 2018, returned to Zimbabwe for the first time since 2005 to perform a concert.

Thomas Mapfumo was born in 1945 in Marondera, Mashonaland East, a town southeast of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, though at the time the capital was called Salisbury and the country was a colony of Great Britain called Southern Rhodesia.

Thomas Mapfumo lived a traditional, rural Shona lifestyle until the age of ten, when his family moved to the Harare township of Mbare.

Thomas Mapfumo joined his first band, the Zutu Brothers, as a singer at the age of 16.

Thomas Mapfumo played mostly covers of American rock and soul tunes, such as Otis Redding or Elvis Presley, until he was in the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band.

Thomas Mapfumo worked with guitarist Joshua Dube to transcribe the sounds of the chief instrument of traditional Shona music, the mbira to the electric guitar.

Thomas Mapfumo started singing primarily in the Shona language, rather than in English.

Thomas Mapfumo performed at a celebratory concert that featured Bob Marley.

Thomas Mapfumo was accused of being involved with a stolen-car ring.

Things got uncomfortable enough that Thomas Mapfumo moved to Eugene, Oregon in the late 1990s.

The homecoming show proved that Thomas Mapfumo was out of political danger, and he returned for more shows in many parts of Zimbabwe between December 2018 and March 2019.

Thomas Mapfumo returned to his United States base after the four-month visit to Zimbabwe.