Witch (Zamrock band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Lusaka , Zambia |
Key people | Emanuel "Jagari" Chanda (lead vocals) |
| Products | Zamrock music, albums, live performances |
Number of employees | 5+ |
Witch—also known in various stylizations such as WITCH or W.I.T.C.H.—is a prominent Zamrock ensemble that originated in the 1970s and is widely regarded as Zambia’s foremost band of that period. Fronted by vocalist Emanuel "Jagari" Chanda, the group’s name is an acronym for "We Intend To Cause Havoc." WITCH rose to prominence during the vibrant post-independence era in Zambia but experienced a decline in the late 1970s due to economic hardships and increasing government repression, a fate shared by many Zamrock acts. The band experienced a resurgence in 2012, fueled by growing global interest spurred by reissued recordings.
History
WITCH was established amid Zambia’s flourishing post-independence cultural scene but saw its fortunes wane in the late 1970s as economic instability and political authoritarianism intensified. During this period, the band adapted by performing mainly during daylight hours to circumvent curfew restrictions. These circumstances led lead singer Jagari to exit the group and embark on a teaching career.
Following this transition, WITCH brought in Patrick Chisembele and Christine Jackson as principal vocalists, marking a stylistic pivot from their original rock sound toward disco influences. After their departure, under the stewardship of Chris Mbewe, the band embraced more indigenous Zambian musical traditions, particularly focusing on kalindula rhythms, evident in songs such as "Janet" and "Nazingwa."
By the mid-1980s, WITCH halted live performances until their revival in 2012 when Chanda reassembled the band in the United States. As of 2013, WITCH embarked on tours featuring a refreshed lineup that included Jagari alongside European musicians from countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland. Their body of work has been reissued both digitally and on vinyl formats. Since 2006, WITCH’s tracks have been featured on compilations curated by international labels including Rolling Stone, Rough Trade, and Now-Again Records, with significant exposure on the compilation Welcome to Zamrock!.
In 2023, WITCH unveiled Zango, marking their first full-length studio release in almost four decades.
Band members
Dates are approximate and correspond to album release periods.
Current (2014) lineup
- Emanyeo "Jagari" Chanda – lead vocals (1972–1976, 2012–present)
- Patrick Mwondela – keyboards (1980–1984, 2012–present)
- Nico Mauskoviç – drums and percussion
- Stefan Lilov – guitar
- JJ Whitefield – guitar
Former members
- Chris "Kims" Mbewe – lead guitar and vocals (1972–1984)
- Gideon "Giddy King" Mulenga – bass guitar (1972–1984)
- Boidi "Star MacBoyd" Sinkala – drums and vocals (1972–1977)
- John "Music" Muma – rhythm guitar and vocals (1972–1975, 1977)
- Paul "Jones" Mumba – keyboards and drums (1972–1974)
- Christine Jackson – vocals (1980)
- Peter Lungu – drums (1980–1984)
- Shaddick Bwalya – vocals and percussion (1980–1984)
- Emmanuel Makulu – guitar (1980)
- Stanford Tembo – vocals (1980)
- Patrick Chisembele – lead vocals (1984)
- Jacco Gardner – bass (2020–2025)
Additional contributors over time have included keyboardists Cosmos Zani and Slim Ali, percussionist Alex Kunda, vocalists A. Rusike and R. Miller, along with the brass section Real Sound Horns featured on several of their 1980s recordings.
Discography
Information sourced from Discogs; reissue specifics obtained from Now-Again Records Bandcamp.
Studio albums
- Introduction (1972; reissued 2011)
- In the Past (1974; reissued 2012)
- Lazy Bones!! (1975; reissued 2012)
- Lukombo Vibes (1976; reissued 2012)
- WITCH (1977; reissued 2024)
- Movin' On (1980; reissued 2015, 2024)
- Kuomboka (1984; reissued 2015, 2024)
- Zango (2023)
- Sogolo (2025)
Compilation albums
- We Intend to Cause Havoc! (Now-Again, 2011)