The Rothko Chapel presents the Songs for Justice series, featuring concerts and conversations exploring the power of music in furthering social justice movements and addressing today’s inequities and injustices. Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited will perform deep mbira anthems, rollicking township dance grooves, and refracted glimmers of reggae, RandB, and African jazz on the Plaza to conclude this program series.

About the presenter Affectionately known to the world as the “Lion of Zimbabwe,” Thomas Mapfumo has been a witness and participant of the history in his native country, Zimbabwe. From the bloody years of the country’s liberation war in the 1970’s, right through the present economic and political crises, Mapfumo has used his revolutionary, spiritually charged music to decry injustice and highlight the historical and cultural issues that underlie the news headlines. Mapfumo is a musical visionary, fearless social critic, and one of the greatest African bandleaders of the past century. Learn more about Thomas Mapfumo here.

Musicians include: Thomas Mapfumo, lead singer; Gilbert Zvamaida, lead guitar; Chris Muchabaiwa, bass; Eric Orem, mbira; Eddie Delissio, drums; Charles Jangano, keyboard