The Four Brothers are perhaps the most internationally successful and recognised group to come from Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...

. The members are not literally brothers and at times there have been more than four. They play fast-paced guitar-based pop music with songs sung in the Shona language

Shona language

Shona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples who speak one of the Shona language dialects: Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika, Ndau and Korekore...

. Their lead guitar string-plucking sound is reminiscent of the sound of the African mbira

Mbira

In African music, the mbira is a musical instrument that consists of a wooden board to which staggered metal keys have been attached. It is often fitted into a resonator...

 instrument and is a style known as 'jit

Jit

Jit is a style of popular Zimbabwean dance music. It features a swift rhythm played on drums and accompanied by a guitar. Jit evolved out many diverse influences, including domestic chimurenga, Congolese rumba and Tanzanian guitar styles...

'.

Founded in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia

Rhodesia

Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...

) in 1977 by Marshall Munhumumwe and Never Mutare with Edward Zulu and Aleck Chipaika, the band gained international recognition in the late 1980’s with UK BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel

John Peel

John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...

 being their most well known advocate.

Marshall Munhumumwe was the nephew of Zimbabwean star Thomas Mapfumo

Thomas Mapfumo

Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo is a Zimbabwean musician known as "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 President Robert Mugabe...

.

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

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...

. They took up a residency position at the Saratoga bar in Salisbury (now Harare

Harare

Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...

).

After the ‘Chimurenga’, the 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

Mbira

In African music, the mbira is a musical instrument that consists of a wooden board to which staggered metal keys have been attached. It is often fitted into a resonator...

.

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 ‘celebration’ in the Shona language.

After signing a deal with British record label Cooking Vinyl the band toured the UK and Canada. This apparently brought the band a greater degree of musical freedom enabling them to buy new instruments and to record more.

BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...

 DJ John Peel

John Peel

John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...

 championed The Four Brothers in the UK. They recorded four radio sessions for his show between 1988 and 2000. The band played at Peel's surprise 50th birthday party at his home and he selected 'Pasi Pano Pane Zviedzo' as one of his favourite records of all time on the radio show Desert Island Discs

Desert Island Discs

Desert Island Discs is a BBC Radio 4 programme first broadcast on 29 January 1942. It is the second longest-running radio programme , and is the longest-running factual programme in the history of radio...

in 1990. Peel is often quoted as describing the Four Brothers as "..the best live band in the world".

In 1997 founder member Marshall Munhumumwe suffered a stroke, following a car crash. He was unable to continue to perform with the band and was replaced by Albert Ruwizhi. Munhumumwe died in 2001 at the age of 49 and the following year bass guitarist Never Mutare died. Finally, the last surviving member, Frank Sibanda died peacefully in December 2010.

Mandega/Makorokoto

(7 inch single 1977) Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC)

Mandega (Doing it alone) - Their 1st song. Makorokoto (Congratulations) - Their 1st hit.

1. Mandega
2. Makorokoto

Rugare

(US LP/Cassette 1986) WEA Records/Tusk Music Company SUH1048/ZSUH1048

Marshall Munhumunwe - lead vocals, drums, composer

1. Rugare
2. Pahukama
3. Uchandifunga
4. Wakasarudza Akanaka
5. Unondichemera Unondipei
6. Usagare Ne Chigumbu
7. Ndakatadzeiko
8. Swere Ngoma

Tonosangana Ikoko

Patrick Mkwamba and The Four Brothers

(LP) Kumusha/Gramma Records KSALP104

1. Wapenga Nayo Bonus
2. Vakakunda Zviedzo
3. Kubhawa Handigare
4. Emeriya Usanyengedzwe
5. Mombe Youmai
6. Uri Tsotsi
7. Ndatendeuka
8. Mwana Wandaida Kuroora

Rudo Chete

(LP 1988) Kumusha/Gramma Records KSALP124

1. Rudo Chete
2. Ngatipindukewo
3. Vabereki
4. Wakazvarwa Sei
5. Kutambura Chete
6. Munondizvidza
7. Chenjerera Ngozi
8. Nhamo

Uchandifunga

(UK 12 inch single 1988) (Recorded at Shed Studios

Shed Studios

Shed Studios was responsible for the production of hundreds of band recordings and a large body of music used for various advertisements and films in Rhodesia, and later in Zimbabwe, from 1975 until 2000...

, Harare, Zimbabwe) Cooking Vinyl FRY005T

1. Uchandifunga (Dance remix)
2. Makorokoto
3. Guhwa Uri Mwana Waani

Makorokoto

(UK compilation CD/LP Gramma Records 1988 © Cooking Vinyl 1989) Cooking Vinyl COOKCD014/COOK014

Marshall Munhumumwe - drums and lead vocals
Never Mutare – bass and vocals
Aleck Chipaika – rhythm guitar and vocals
Edward Matiyasi – lead guitar and vocals

Makorokoto was released on the UK on the Cooking Vinyl record label and uses A Serengeti licensed product from Gramma Records, Zimbabwe. It was a CD & LP release. The CD contains all 16 tracks while the LP version contains only 10 tracks. When the LP ‘Bros’ was released the following year the tracks that did not appear on the Makorokoto LP were included as a free six track EP Gramma Records/Cooking Vinyl CHEF002X

1. Uchandifunga
2. Vimbayi (2)
3. Rumbidzai (6)
4. Makorokoto
5. Rudo Imoto (1)
6. Pasi Pano Pane Zviedzo (4)
7. Maishoko Ababa Namai (3)
8. Guhwa Uri Mwana Waani
9. Wapenga Nayo Bonus
10. Siya Zviriko (5)
11. Rugare
12. Ndakatadzeiko
13. Pamusoroi
14. Nhaka Yemusiiranwa
15. Sara Tasangana
16. Ndakatambura

The Peel Seesions

(UK 12 inch red vinyl EP 1988) BBC Enterprises Ltd./Strange Fruit SFPS070

Never Mature - bass and backing vocals
Frank Simanda - guitar and backing vocals
Alick Chipaika - guitar and backing vocals
Marshall Ticharwa Munhumume - drums and lead vocals

1. Rugare
2. Uchandifunga
3. Vimbayi
4. Pahukama

Bros

(UK CD/LP 1989) Cooking Vinyl COOKCD023/COOK023

Frank Sibanda replaced Edward Matiyasi – Lead guitar and vocals

1. Rudo Chete
2. Ngatipindukewo
3. Nhamo
4. Kutambura Chete
5. Zuro Chisara
6. Munondizvidza
7. Vabereki
8. Chenjerera Ngozi
9. Wakazvarwa

The Best Of The Four Brothers (Makorokoto)

(US compilation CD 1990) Atomic Theory ATD1106

1. Uchandifunga
2. Vimbayi
3. Rumbidzai
4. Makorokoto
5. Rudo Imoto
6. Pasi Pano Pane Zviedzo
7. Maishoko Ababa Namai
8. Guhwa Uri Mwana Waani
9. Wapenga Nayo Bonus
10. Siya Zviriko
11. Rugare
12. Ndakatadzeiko
13. Pamusoroi
14. Nhaka Yemusiiranwa
15. Sara Tasangana
16. Ndakatambura

Mukadzi Wepiri

(LP 1990) Kumusha/Gramma Records KSALP129

1. Mukadzi Wepiri
2. Chidhakwa
3. Mazita Nezviito
4. Zvakona
5. Chiroora
6. Tezvara
7. Musandodaro
8. Chandavengerwa

Wachiveiko

Marshall Munhumumwe and Four Brothers

(LP 1993) Kumusha/Gramma Records KSALP147

Mambakwedza

Marshall Munhumumwe and Four Brothers

(LP 1994) Gramma Records

1. Gona Ramachingura
2. Nditumbure
3. Muranda
4. Mwana Wezimbabwe
5. Buka Tiende
6. Mhuri Yandiremera
7. Pfumo Rangu
8. Musha Waparara

Ndinvumbamireiwo

(7 inch single 1996) Zimbabwe Music Corporation (ZMC) FYF559

1. Ndinvumbamireiwo Part I
2. Ndinvumbamireiwo Part II

Greatests Hits 1994 To 1996

Marshall Munhumumwe and Four Brothers

(compilation CD 1996) Zimbabwe Music Corporation (ZMC) CDZIL308

1. Ndinvumbamireiwo
2. Matinetsa
3. Chero Uchindida
4. Vatendi
5. Tauraya Rudzi Rwedu
6. Rudo Rukave Ruvengo
7. Mbereko Yakaramba
8. Mativenga
9. Chawanzwa Usachipamhidzire
10. Kumawere

The Hits Of The Four Brothers Volume 2

(compilation CD 1996) Gramma Records ZCD121

1. Pfimbi Yemashoko
2. Wachiveiko
3. Rwendo Rusina Muperekedzi
4. Vimbayi
5. Ane Mari Ndiye Mukuru
6. Rudo Imoto
7. Rudo Chete
8. Mwambakwedza
9. Wadiwa Musamuzonde
10. Ndakatambura Newe
11. Rugare
12. Siya Zviriko
13. Guhwa Uri Mwana Waani

Manga Manga

(UK CD 1998) Positive Cultural Promotions (PCP) PCPCD02

Never Mutare – bass guitar and backing vocals
Frank Sibanda – lead and acoustic guitar and backing vocals
Albert Ruwizhi – drums and lead vocals
Robium Chauraya – rhythm guitar and backing vocals
(Aleck Chipaika played keyboards at around this time but does not appear on the CD)

1. Hapana Achanyara
2. Usagare Nechigumba
3. Mugomba
4. Vana Ve Mazuvaano
5. Ndinotenda
6. Hunhu Wemunhu
7. Cahkaipa Chiri Nyore
8. Sarudzai Waenda
9. Vamwene Vanoshusha

Early Hits Of The Four Brothers

(compilation CD 2000) Gramma Records CDGRAMMA182

1. Uchandifunga
2. Vimbayi
3. Rumbidzai
4. Makorokoto
5. Rudo Imoto
6. Pasi Pano Pane Zviedzo
7. Maishoko Ababa Namai
8. Guhwa Uri Mwana Waani
9. Wapenga Nayo Bonus
10. Siya Zviriko
11. Rugare
12. Ndakatadzeiko
13. Pamusoroi
14. Nhaka Yemusiiranwa

Ruvengo

(CD 2004) Gramma Records

1. Shungu Dzangu
2. Ruvengo
3. Rufu
4. Kunaka Kwechimwe
5. Mwari Baba
6. Molini
7. Hwenyakwese
8. Shinga Mwanangu

The recordings of The Four Brothers appear on many compilation albums. 'Pasi Pano Pane Zviedzo' appears on the 2006 compilation in tribute to John Peel 'Right Time, Wrong Speed'

External links

• Details of Peel Sessions for BBC