The Bhundu Boys - Live The Mean Fiddler, Harlesden, London 22.06.88

[@EddyHiggins]

I was lucky to get to see them live at their best.

[@voomaa9488]

Lucky you ❤

[@Rob1nson]

RIP Rise Kagona. Brilliant guitarist and songwriter.

[@starzen3266]

Thank you so much for uploading this video 🙏🏾🫶🏽

[@wonderfullife3108]

Whenever I meet someone from Zimbabwe I always ask if they remember the Bhundu boys. Those jangly guitars seemed to fit in well with the British indy bands of the 80s.

[@shellovski]

Maybe thank Andy Kershaw and John Peel for that. That's how I discovered African music in the 80's - late night R1 and I'm sure that it was the same for many British musicians.

[@berrymuchemwa6615]

Thanks to the one who uploaded this video. Yeah they were dribbled by a promoter. The best musical outfit to come out of Zimbabwe, the "Beatles of Africa". Made us proud

[@garryjuma3973]

What a live performance! The crowd enjoying the hits being belted out one after another.

[@sdh8286]

I saw Rise play on Sat (10th Aug), I had tears of joy running down my face

[@amhomeimprovements]

And he just passed on

[@brightchisango5911]

This is the definition of a live show. Proudly Zimbabwean

[@andreeopthof376]

Are you sure it's the 1989 gig? At the end of the video you can see the BBC logo with romanic numbers which mean 1988: so it's obviously more the 01.12.87 gig at the Mean fiddler. And I've tried to figure out the songs. Some I missed, maybe someone can help out: 01 Happy Birthday 02 Jekesa (Come On Let's Join Hands) 03 My foolish heart 04 Ndoitasei 05 ??? 06 Hupenyu Hwangu btw, brilliant live footage. Endless dancing crowd to the bass groove. I remembered it well as I've seen them ca. 1988/1989 in Bremen at "Hochschule für Technik" Mensa. Extraordinary. Thanks to John Peel for him playing them often on his show!!

[@TravisBickle1963]

Your probably correct about the date... the tape was loaned to me and I got it from the spine and the writing had partially disappeared... It will be the broadcast date so 22.06.88

[@jamesthecc]

Track 5 is Chemedzevana from their True Jit album; in fact most of the tracks in this video are from that album, adding extra credence to the idea that this a performance from 1987 :)

[@renaissanceman2868]

Conversation amongst Zimbabweans; they fix the error. Brilliant

[@collernwellbdonegogolkotok5406]

Rest in peace legend Biggie. Your legacy is celebrated 🍾

[@tafadzwataruvinga7979]

An amazing band ahead of its time!

[@Prof_Tad]

Not necessarily ahead of their time but just talented and true to their Zim roots at the time. Zim old school music was quite brilliant coz the older generation of musicians were true artists unlike those of today who record even if they have no skill, talent or message but are going after the money. Most young artists of today cannot hold a show on their own, they can only perform as undercards to the better artists

[@edwinnyamupenza7469]

Upenyu hwangu song👌👌. very hilarious, people of different races in trance, all in one motion, these people had the power to bring people together through music.

[@greatestytcommentator]

Happiness is Joy! All One in Time!😅

[@ScottishWickerman]

Saw these guys at Glasgow Rooftops and remember them on John Peel. We were all mad alien sex fiend fans, punks and psychobillies , I wonder what they thought of audience, haha. We were game for anything. They were big influence on the Smiths and something original and different at the time.

[@tarirai]

The roots to music are Zimbabwean traditional Jiti and Mbira music

[@wa8d4g8i7]

THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING

[@sdh8286]

The Bhundu's were just brilliant to see, such a happy band. And is Rise the only surviving member these days, sad if so :(

[@AndreFaffie]

Kenny Chitsvatsva (Drummer?) is still alive in the UK

[@shellovski]

Sadly Rise has just passed, I think that he was the last surviving member.

[@sdh8286]

@@shellovski Aww man, that is so sad, I'm in bits here. I'm so glad I got to see him play only a month ago. That is very sad news indeed

[@collernwellbdonegogolkotok5406]

Jekesa my favorite

[@troyroy01]

This is gold! Biggie played guitar when Rise was on lead vocal. Interesting. Thanks for uploading.

[@kennedymulendema628]

Who did the vocals on "Chemeza Vana" and which one is Biggie? This is definitely my favorite track. Whenever I hear mention of Bhundu Boys that's what comes to my mind!

[@troyroy01]

@@kennedymulendema628 Lead vocals on that song is Rise Kagona, the usual lead guitarist. Biggie was the rhythm guitarist, the charismatic front man of the band. Now late.

[@emmanuelchidzekete2400]

Epic stuff!

[@hang-sangitch]

I would love to know how he got that sound on his guitar on foolish heart. Sublime

[@solomonmachokoto1274]

Kenny Chitsvatsva is now the only surviving member of the original Bhundu boys.

[@tafadzwamatamba9836]

I am not well aware what happened with the Bundu Boys. But just from watching this video l am of the opinion that Biggie was supposed to lead vocals. If ever there was any fighting, it could have been who led vocally. The other guys are rather too low or singing in the wrong key. And definitely this brought the vibe down from the hits that they had produced in Zimbabwe. Anyways Biggie is from my home area. I was heart broken not to meet him. Prince Tendayi Mpfurutsa too. As for my brother Artwell Matamba of Hurungwe sounds, l won’t go any further. Thanks for uploading and sharing. I had never heard some of the songs here but explains the downfall. Who is playing lead? Bass? I know David played bass and there is Pride in there. And who is the keys player? Maybe Chitsvatsva is on drums? I only know these bits from my brothers telling me.

[@learnmoregaranowako3635]

Rise was the main lead guitarist & was a wizard in that regard, same Biggie was the main vocalist & rhythmist. However, when Rise was on vocals, Biggie would be on the lead guitar. ..very exciting.

[@CoalbeyGustav-un7ur]

Shakespear ("Shakie") Kangwena - keyboard, backing vocals. So when it came to the group’s politics, Rise was the band leader but Biggie was the lead vocalist and main songwriter. That caused a bit of friction because Biggie was more charismatic and endearing so he got all the attention. This didn’t really go down with Rise who even now listening to him describing the goings on of back then you could tell there was a deep seated hatred of Biggie which bordered on jealousy it seems. I might be wrong but that’s my take on it.

[@juddykarambo1048]

Biggie aigona zvakeeeee MHSRIEP

[@starzen3266]

🇿🇼🐐

[@charleschananda1548]

Talented band from Zimbabwe. Sad they were duped by their UK promoter and ended up fighting amongst themselves, leading to the demise of the band.

[@hang-sangitch]

My foolish heart starts at 9.52

[@greatestytcommentator]

I literally just heard that Annie Nightiingale has passed away.. 5 days ago. Ffs

[@TravisBickle1963]

I Know Very Little About This If You Do Then Please Enlighten Us.

[@normanmadzivire195]

Thank you Biggie

[@greatestytcommentator]

I want to know more about these boys... but I am worried that there will be a sad end to the story. These guys brought more happiness than....... well.. you Name IT

[@AncientDzimbahwe]

Biggie was too much

[@AndreFaffie]

Biggie was The Messi of this Bhundu Boys Machine without an ounce of doubt