A Legacy Rekindled
In the ever-crowded landscape of new releases and nostalgic reissues, few bands straddle past and future quite like WITCH. Once dubbed the “Zambian Beatles,” they were pioneers of Zamrock in the 1970s – a genre that fused fuzzed-out psychedelia with African rhythms, garage rock, and the raw energy of post-colonial self-expression. Now, over 40 years later, WITCH return with SOGOLO – a name that literally means “future” in Chinyanja.
But SOGOLO isn’t just a continuation of a legacy. It’s a reimagining. It’s proof that innovation doesn’t have an expiry date – and that a band with roots in resistance, rhythm and reinvention still has more to say. So what does the future sound like when it’s built on the bones of a genre that almost disappeared? Let’s dig in.
What Is Zamrock? The Origins of a Genre That Changed Everything
Zamrock emerged in 1970s Zambia – a period marked by independence, creativity, and cultural upheaval. The genre fused Western rock (especially Hendrix, Sabbath, and Cream) with local influences like Kalindula and traditional Zambian rhythms. Psychedelia, funk, fuzz, and politics collided into a sound that was defiant, joyous, and wholly unique.
WITCH (short for We Intend To Cause Havoc) stood at the heart of this movement. As one of Zamrock’s most prolific and inventive acts, they released seven albums between 1972 and 1984. Their music was raw, groovy, urgent – reflecting the optimism and turbulence of a young nation finding its voice.
As the AIDS epidemic swept through Zambia, it tragically claimed the lives of most of WITCH’s original members. For a time, it seemed that the Zamrock movement might vanish entirely. But in the 2010s, a global wave of reissues brought renewed attention to their music – and with Emmanuel ‘Jagari’ Chanda as the sole surviving original member, WITCH found new life with a refreshed lineup and a second act that no one saw coming.
Why SOGOLO Is More Than a Nostalgia Album
It would have been easy for WITCH to lean into nostalgia. To replicate the distorted grooves of Lazy Bones!! or the heavy funk of Introduction and call it a day. But SOGOLO doesn’t do that. It honours the DNA of Zamrock while pushing its boundaries outward – creating something both recognisable and new.
There’s still grit, groove, and psych – but they’re filtered through the lens of contemporary production, global collaboration, and the lived experience of a band reborn. Recorded in Berlin during their whirlwind world tour, SOGOLO brims with spontaneity and experimentation. The garage-rock riffs are tighter, the funk hits harder, and the arrangements feel both chaotic and considered.
Tracks like “By the Time You Realise” balance jagged guitars with pulsing synths. “Nshingilile” leans into atmospheric textures while retaining that classic WITCH strut. And the percussion? Still full of that hypnotic, circular rhythm that made the original Zamrock records so magnetic.
It’s clear this isn’t a throwback album. It’s an evolution. And it feels right that a band rooted in reinvention would refuse to look backwards for too long.
Inside WITCH’s Creative Rebirth: Jagari, Berlin, and the Road
At the centre of SOGOLO is Emmanuel ‘Jagari’ Chanda – the only surviving member of the original WITCH lineup. Named after Mick Jagger (with whom he shared a flair for the dramatic), Jagari was the wild, electrifying frontman who helped define a genre. Today, he brings that same spirit – tempered by age, grief, and wisdom – into a new chapter.
What’s striking is how SOGOLO doesn’t just lean on his legacy. It’s built around collaboration. The current lineup includes international musicians who grew up idolising Zamrock and are now playing it alongside its originator. There’s an intergenerational dialogue happening in real time – with Jagari’s soulful vocals acting as a bridge between eras.
And there’s also the context of touring. SOGOLO was recorded on the road – a result of stolen moments between shows, captured energy, and the momentum of a band rediscovering their power. That urgency bleeds into the album’s sound. You can feel the sweat, the rush, the joy of playing music that means something.
Why WITCH’s Comeback Album SOGOLO Matters in 2025
The cultural resurgence of WITCH speaks to something bigger than musical revivalism. In a time when rediscovering the past often feels more exciting than chasing the latest trend, WITCH show us that heritage doesn’t have to be static. It can move. It can grow.
There’s something thrilling about hearing a band with nothing to prove take creative risks. WITCH don’t need to compete with their own myth – they’ve already lived it. SOGOLO shows that they’re more interested in what comes next than what came before.
For new listeners, especially those just starting to explore African psych, funk, and rock, SOGOLO is a welcoming entry point. It’s rooted in something real, but it isn’t a museum piece. And for longtime fans, it’s a celebration – not just of survival, but of transformation.
In a world obsessed with what’s new and what’s next, WITCH remind us that the future sometimes lives in the hands of those who shaped the past.
WITCH Are Just Getting Started
SOGOLO isn’t just a comeback. It’s a manifesto. It declares that creativity doesn’t age, that innovation isn’t just for the young, and that genres born in specific moments can still speak to new ones. By weaving the past into something boldly present, WITCH have made an album that feels both timeless and urgently of the now.
Zamrock may have started in the copper mines and dance halls of 1970s Zambia, but in SOGOLO, it finds a new home in Berlin studios, global stages, and record shops like ours – where curious ears and open minds come to listen.
Whether you're a die-hard fan or someone discovering WITCH for the first time, this is your invitation to step into the future.
