The Mambos: new African Cultural Ambassadors

by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

A new African musical outfit, the Mambos has been assembled in Dallas, drawing a rich experience in musical talent spanning decades. The group’s band members have vast experiences in Ghananian and Zimbabwean music genres such as museve, rhumba, chimurenga and Tuku. 

People often ask me if there is anywhere in the world that I have not been that I would like to visit. I always answer Africa. And although I have no current plans to get to Africa, I will be savoring the memory of the performance of the Mambos at the Lakewood Bar and Grill   <

“We are excited to present our African culture through music, the group has a majority of their members coming from Zimbabwean bands, they will share music culture taped from Cape to Cairo, our audiences can expect to be on their feet for the longest – you just can’t afford sit down ” says Band Manager Clive Chinzou. <

The evening I was there nearly half the audience jumped up and danced in various styles of African/Caribbean/Island. I am not sure if I enjoyed the music or watching the dancers more.

The name of the group is reminiscent of the Harare Mambos and ironically the group’s keyboard player and bassist is Charles Jangano the son of Green Jangano, the man who led the Harare Mambos from the late fifties. <

Their fusion of various guitar strumming techniques and vocal styles will certainly mesmerize those that have a keen ear for eclectic sound.  Band member Sydney Dzangare brings a strong background in gospel music as he performed with Pastor Charles Charamba as a keyboardist.

Lead vocalist and acoustic maestro Tafadzwa Soda also brings a unique vocal flavor to the musical output while Charles Jangano is the natural music arranger based on his 25-year experience performing with his father, veteran singer Green Jangano who is dubbed the father of modern Zimbabwean music. <

Ian Mukwere specializes in the mbira instrument, known to Western audiences as the thumb piano. His hand brings the traditional element of “Bira” that most Chimurenga listeners have heard from artistes such as Thomas Mapfumo, the late Ephat Mujuru and Sekuru David Gweshe.

Jacob Nortey – a Ghananian drummer brings the in the group the West African drumbeat popularly known in Soukous, Coupe Decale, Ndombolo,  Makossa rhythms just to mention a few, while Elisha Shamuyarira plays both the bass and lead guitars. Clever Chitare plays percussion and backing vocals for the band.

The band manager Clive Chinzou is also the director of Africa Rhythms, the organization that made it possible for musical legends such as the late Lucky Dube, Oliver Mtukudzi, Alick Macheso and Kanda Bongoman among others to perform for Dallas audiences over the years. The Mambos will certainly bear the cultural torch in the West for the Zimbabweans and they need the support. The group can be reached at mambos@africarythms.com

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who can't wait to hear the Mambos again. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com and www.teaAtlas.com