| The Four Brothers | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Years Active: | 1977-2002 |
| Label: | Cooking Vinyl, Gramma Records |
| Past Members: |
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The Four Brothers were a pop group from Zimbabwe.[1] [2] The members were not brothers. They played fast-paced guitar-based pop music with songs sung in the Shona language. Their lead guitar string-plucking sound is reminiscent of the sound of the African mbira instrument and is a style known as 'jit'.
Founded in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) in 1977 by Marshall Munhumumwe and Never Mutare with Edward Matigasi and Aleck Chipaika, the band gained international recognition in the late 1980s with UK BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel being their most well known advocate.[3]
Marshall Munhumumwe was the maternal uncle of Zimbabwean star Thomas Mapfumo. Marshal Munhumumwe was the last born in the family of Thomas Mapfumo's mother.
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. They took up a residency position at the Saratoga bar in Salisbury (now Harare).
After the Chimurenga war of independence in Zimbabwe, it became possible to again play traditional music. The band's format and instruments are 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. Most of the early recordings were produced at Shed Studios, by Bothwell Nyamhondera, during sessions for Gramma Records.
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 'Congratulations' in the Shona language.
After signing a deal with British record label, Cooking Vinyl, the band toured the UK and Canada. It is at this point that a rift appeared between Marshal Munhumumwe and Patrick Mukwamba as he claims he was cut out of the deal and left behind. This tour apparently brought the band a greater degree of musical freedom enabling them to buy new instruments and to record more.
BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel 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 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. The last surviving member, Frank Sibanda died peacefully in December 2010.
In 2007, former band member James Nyamande who had been kicked out by Frank Sibanda after its demise in 2002, attempted to resuscitate the band but failed. By then he had formed his own band, the Makombe Brothers, although this group performed several Four Brothers songs. In 2012, Nyamande released an album under the Four Brothers name in an attempt to maintain the band's legacy, but was ordered by a civil court not to use the name, after objection from Marshall Munhumumwe's family.
In 2000 Marshal Munhumumwe bought a house next door to Patrick Mukwamba in Seke Township. He moved-in with his second wife Joanna, his oldest son Marshall Munhumumwe Jr. and Shingayi Munhumumwe, his second born son, both from his first marriage.
In 2016, Marshall Munhumumwe Jr., the son of the founder, joined the new Four Brothers/Makombe Brothers band as their administrator, to maintain his father's legacy.
(7 inch single 1977) Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC)
Mandega (Doing it alone) - Their 1st song. Makorokoto (Congratulations) - Their 1st hit.
(US LP/Cassette 1986) WEA Records/Tusk Music Company SUH1048/ZSUH1048
Marshall Munhumunwe - lead vocals, drums, composer
(LP 1987) Kumusha/Gramma Records KSALP119
Patrick Mkwamba and The Four Brothers
Patrick Mkwamba and The Four Brothers
(LP 1984) Kumusha/Gramma Records KSALP104
(LP 1988) Kumusha/Gramma Records KSALP124
(UK 12-inch single 1988) (Recorded at Shed Studios, Harare, Zimbabwe) Cooking Vinyl FRY005T
(7 inch single 1988) Gramma Records
(UK compilation CD/LP Gramma Records 1988 © Cooking Vinyl 1989) Cooking Vinyl COOKCD014/COOK014
Marshall Munhumumwe - drums and lead vocalsNever Mutare – bass and vocalsAleck Chipaika – rhythm guitar and vocalsEdward 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
(UK 7 inch single) Earthworks DIG002
(UK 12 inch red vinyl EP 1988) BBC Enterprises Ltd./Strange Fruit SFPS070
Never Mutare - bass and backing vocalsFrank Sibanda - guitar and backing vocalsAlick Chipaika - guitar and backing vocalsMarshall Ticharwa Munhumumwe - drums and lead vocals
(7 inch single 1989)
(UK CD/LP 1989) Cooking Vinyl COOKCD023/COOK023
Frank Sibanda replaced Edward Matiyasi – Lead guitar and vocals
(US compilation CD 1990) Atomic Theory ATD1106
(LP 1990) Kumusha/Gramma Records KSALP129
Marshall Munhumumwe & The Four Brothers
(LP, Cassette 1993) Kumusha/Gramma Records KSALP147, L4KSALP147
Marshall Munhumumwe and Four Brothers
(LP 1994) Gramma Records
(LP 1994) Gramma Records
Marshall Munhumumwe and Four Brothers
(LP 1994)
(LP) Gramma Records
(7 inch single 1996) Zimbabwe Music Corporation (ZMC) FYF559
Marshall Munhumumwe and Four Brothers
(compilation CD 1996) Zimbabwe Music Corporation (ZMC) CDZIL308
(compilation CD 1996) Gramma Records ZCD121
(UK CD 1998) Positive Cultural Promotions (PCP) PCPCD02
Never Mutare – bass guitar and backing vocalsFrank Sibanda – lead and acoustic guitar and backing vocalsAlbert Ruwizhi – drums and lead vocalsRobium Chauraya – rhythm guitar and backing vocals(Aleck Chipaika played keyboards at around this time but does not appear on the CD)
(compilation CD 2000) Gramma Records CDGRAMMA182
(Cassette 2002) Zimbabwe Music Corporation (ZMC) ZC361
(CD 2004) Gramma Records
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'.