''Corruption'' is an album by the Zimbabwean musician

Thomas Mapfumo Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo (born July 3, 1945) is a musician nicknamed "The Lion of Zimbabwe" and "Mukanya" (the praise name of his clan in the Shona language) for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his mu ...

(credited with his band, the Blacks Unlimited), released in 1989. The album criticized the government of

Robert Mugabe Robert Gabriel Mugabe (; ; 21 February 1924 – 6 September 2019) was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017. He served as Leader of the ...

. Mugabe's displeasure with the criticism eventually forced Mapfumo into exile, and Mapfumo's music was barred from Zimbabwean radio. The title track was discussed in the Zimbabwean parliament, around the same time as several government officials were indicted as part of a smuggling ring. ''Corruption'' was Mapfumo's first album to be released by a major label in North America. A Zimbabwean version of the album, titled ''Varombo Kuvarombo'', had been released by Gramma Records.

Production

Similar to the signing of

King Sunny Adé Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye (born 22 September 1946), known professionally as King Sunny Adé, is a Nigerian jùjú singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is regarded as one of the first African pop musicians to gain international ...

, Mapfumo was signed to

Mango Records Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anoth ...

in part due to label head Chris Blackwell's desire to find a "worldbeat" star to replace the late Bob Marley. Mapfumo sang the title track in English, with the rest of the songs sung in

Shona Shona often refers to: * Shona people, a Southern African people * Shona language, a Bantu language spoken by Shona people today Shona may also refer to: * ''Shona'' (album), 1994 album by New Zealand singer Shona Laing * Shona (given name) * S ...

. His intention was to inform the world of the conditions in Zimbabwe; to that end, the song's music incorporates elements of reggae and R&B. Other songs address Zimbabwe's war with Mozambique.

Critical reception

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

wrote: "Never have his guitars sounded more like mbiras; never have his rhythms better evoked their own intricate selves. The vocals are also relaxed, giving off an aura of ruminative wisdom that may even have some truth to it." ''

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference to ...

'' thought that "delivered with ... heavenly allure by pretty backing vocals, crisp horns and gently rolling tempos, the songs on ''Corruption'' grapple with troubles aplenty." The ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

'' deemed the album "an excellent introduction to Mapfumo's work," writing that "his music is richly melodic, rhythmic, accessible and filled with a strong social consciousness." ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'' stated: "Reflecting the dominant Shona culture, in which the thumb piano is the key instrument, Mapfumo's music reflects both Western instrumentation (rippling electric guitar lines in particular) and African tradition (the use of proverbs and innuendo in the lyrics and slowly evolving, complex interactions of rhythmic and vocal melodies)." ''

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' is the only major daily newspaper in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship publication of Cox Enterprises. The ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' is the result of the merger between ...

'' determined that "contrapuntal interplay in songs such as 'Muchadura (You Will Confess)' offer meter-mashing examples of his successful fusion of clashing African and European rhythms."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

wrote "taking on the failed government that took power after independence, Mapfumo continues apace here with fluid grooves and potent barbs."

Track listing

References

{{reflist 1989 albums Mango Records albums Albums by Zimbabwean artists Shona-language albums