Four Brothers

**The Four Brothers** were perhaps the most internationally successful and recognised group to come from Zimbabwe. The members were not literally brothers. They played fast-paced guitar-based pop music with songs sung in the Shona language. Their lead guitar string-plucking sound is reminiscent of the sound of the African mbira instrument and is a style known as 'jit'. Founded in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) in 1977 by Marshall Munhumumwe and Never Mutare with Edward Matigasi and Aleck Chipaika, the band gained international recognition in the late 1980s with UK BBC Radio 1 DJ's Andy Kershaw and John Peel being their most well known advocates.

Marshall Munhumumwe was the maternal uncle of Zimbabwean star Thomas Mapfumo. Marshal Munhumumwe was the last born in the family of Thomas Mapfumo's mother.

At the time the Four Brothers formed, bands in Rhodesia were not allowed to play traditional African music. The Four Brothers therefore played rock and roll cover versions of well-known artists such as the Beatles. They took up a residency position at the Saratoga bar in Salisbury (now Harare).

After the Chimurenga war of independence in Zimbabwe, it became possible to again play traditional music. The band's format and instruments are clearly influenced by western rock and roll but the sound is evidently originating from Africa. The lead guitar is played in such a way as to sound like mbira.

Marshall Munhumumwe wrote most of the band's songs and music as well as unusually being both the lead singer and drummer. Their first big hit in Zimbabwe, 'Makorokoto', celebrated Zimbabwean independence. Makorokoto means 'Congratulations' in the Shona language.

## Links to Kershaw

The Four Brothers were a favourite of both Andy Kershaw and John Peel, who gave the band the opportunities of airplay and sessions for their respective shows. The Four Brothers were one of the many Zimbabwean artists, who performed in Andy Kershaw's radio documentary, Andy Kershaw In Zimbabwe, when Kershaw visited the country in 1988 to explore the music scene there.

Kershaw paid respect on his 31 January 2003 show by playing a Four Brothers track when he heard that Never Mutare: Bass guitarist in, and founder member of Four Brothers, died recently.

Kershaw also choose the Four Brothers' track, Uchandifunga, as one of his favourite tracks on his 12 March 2007 show, which was part of the Desert Island Discs - The Sequel, which was broadcast the day after his Desert Island Discs appearance.

## Sessions

1. Recorded: 1988-08-25. First Broadcast: 08 September 1988. Repeated: 13 October 1988, 01 March 2002

* Serevende / Rudo Chete / Rudo Imoto / Rumbizayi

2. Recorded: 1989-05-18. First Broadcast: 20 August 1989. Repeated: 05 November 1989, 14 January 1990

* Zuro Chisara / Nhaka Yemusiiranwa / Siya Zuiriko / Baba Vanerusaruro

3. Recorded: unknown. First Broadcast: 12 November 1994

* Zvichakunetsa / 'Tinotensa' / Ndivumbamireiwo / Ndatove Muranda

4. Recorded: unknown. First Broadcast: 28 July 1997

* unknown set

5. Recorded: unknown. First Broadcast: 27 April 1998. Repeated: 05 November 1998

* Mbereko Yakaramba / Mativenga / Vimbayi / Tauraja Ruazii Rwedo

6. Recorded: unknown. First Broadcast: 05 August 1999

* Mugomba / Nama Ve Mazuvaamo / Mdimutemda / Hunhu Wemumhu / Chakalpa Chiri Nyore / Hapama Achamyara

## Other Shows Played

1987
* 08 October 1987: Uchandifunga (LP - Rugare) Kumusha
* 15 October 1987: Uchandifunga (LP - Rugare) Kumusha
* 17 December 1987: Uchandifunga (LP - Rugare) Kumusha

1988
* 04 August 1988: Pamusoroi (LP - Makorokoto) Cooking Vinyl
* 01 September 1988: Makorokoto (LP - Makorokoto) Cooking Vinyl

1989
* 16 July 1989: Zuro Chisara (single) Gramma

1990
* 09 December 1990: Mazita Nezviito (LP - Mukadzi Wepiri) Kumusha

1991
* 27 January 1991: Tezvara (LP - Mukadzi Wepiri) Kumusha
* 24 February 1991: Mukadzi Wepiri (LP - Mukadzi Wepiri) Kumusha
* 29 September 1991: Rudo Chete (v/a cassette - Freedom From Debt) World Development Movement
* 22 December 1991: Mukadzi Wepiri (LP - Mukadzi Wepiri) Kumusha

1994
* 17 September 1994: Tsvaga Hunhu Hwemunhu (LP - Pfimbi Yemashoko) Gramma
* 24 September 1994: Dada (LP - Pfimbi Yemashoko) Gramma
* 15 October 1994: Chawanzwa Usachipamhidzire (LP - Mbereko Yakaramba) Kudzanayi

1995
* 21 May 1995: Chawanzwa Usachipamhidzire (LP - Mbereko Yakaramba) Kudzanayi
* 03 September 1995: Uchandifunga (CD - The Best Of The Four Brothers (Makorokoto)) Cooking Vinyl
* 10 September 1995: Uchandifunga (CD - The Best Of The Four Brothers (Makorokoto)) Cooking Vinyl

1996
* 18 August 1996: Rumbidzai
* 24 November 1996: Vimbayi (v/a CD - The Rough Guide To The Music Of Zimbabwe) World Music Network

1998
* 15 June 1998: Rudo Chete (LP - Bros) Cooking Vinyl

1999
* 11 February 1999: Vamwene Vanoshusha (A Demanding Mother-in-law) (CD - Manga Manga) PCP
* 11 February 1999: Hunhu Wemunhu (CD - Manga Manga) PCP
* 18 February 1999: Hapana Achanyara (CD - Manga Manga) PCP
* 25 February 1999: Chakaipa Chiri Nyore (CD - Manga Manga) PCP
* 18 March 1999: Hunhu Wemunhu (CD - Manga Manga) PCP
* 01 April 1999: Ndinotenda (CD - Manga Manga) PCP
* 24 June 1999: Takabva Neko (Compilation CD - Roots Rock Guitar Party Zimbabwe Frontline 3) Stern's
* 15 July 1999: Hunhu Wemunhu (LP - Manga Manga) PCP
* 29 July 1999: Vamwene Vanoshusha (CD - Manga Manga) PCP
* 25 November 1999: Usagare Nechigumba (CD - Manga Manga) PCP
* 30 December 1999: Hunhu Wemunhu (CD - Manga Manga) PCP

2001
* 02 November 2001: Uchandifunga (CD - The Best Of The Four Brothers) Cooking Vinyl

2003
* 31 January 2003: Hunhu Wemunhu (CD - Manga Manga) PCP
* 18 July 2003: Wakazvarwa (CD - Bros) Cooking Vinyl

2006
* 15 October 2006: Pasi Pano Pane Zviedzo (v/a 2xCD - John Peel - Right Time, Wrong Speed 1977-1987) Warner Music TV

2007
* 12 March 2007: Uchandifunga (album - Makorokoto) Cooking Vinyl

2022
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 16: Vamwene Vanoshusha (album - Manga Manga) PCP

## External Links

* Wikipedia
* Discogs