Witch

Emerging from Zambia as trailblazers in psychedelic music, Witch—whose name functions as the acronym We Intend to Cause Havoc—ranked among the principal architects of Zamrock, a style merging Western rock and rhythm & blues with indigenous African traditions. During the 1970s the group stood as one of the nation’s most popular and influential ensembles while psychedelic and hard rock found growing favor across the continent. Formerly Northern Rhodesia, the landlocked southern African country achieved independence in 1964, after which local musicians absorbed progressive currents from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix alongside the innovative soul and funk innovations of James Brown. By the middle of the decade, economic decline in the once-lucrative mining sector plunged Zambia into political turmoil, prompting many Zamrock acts to cultivate a darker, more psychedelic timbre reminiscent of Deep Purple and Grand Funk Railroad. Witch issued their debut album, Introduction, in 1972—the first commercially released LP by any Zambian band—and sustained activity until entering dormancy in the mid-1980s. A 2011 reissue program introduced the group to fresh listeners, leading to a 2012 reunion and subsequent touring; in 2023 they delivered Zango, their first collection of new material in nearly four decades.

The original roster comprised vocalist Emanyeo “Jagari” Chanda, guitarists Chris Mbewe and John Muma, bassist Gedeon Mulenga, and drummer Boidi Sinkala, all seasoned participants in late-1960s Zambian cover bands. Chanda, whose nickname derived from his admiration for Mick Jagger, had performed with the Red Balloons and the Boyfriends—the latter ensemble later transformed into the notable Zamrock unit Peace—while the remaining members had played in Kingston Market. In 1971, after Chanda performed with Kingston Market at a school event, he received an invitation to join; the musicians promptly adopted the name the Mighty Witch before shortening it to Witch and adopting the acronym they had devised. Powered by marijuana along with Western rock and soul, the band released Introduction in 1972, among Zambia’s earliest commercially available long-playing records. Their third album, Lazy Bones!! from 1975, is widely viewed as their strongest recording; despite limitations imposed by rudimentary studio facilities on the continent, Witch cultivated a substantial Zambian audience and performed in stadiums throughout Africa.

Following a tour as support for the U.K.-based Afro-rock outfit Osibisa, the group incorporated additional local elements into the subsequent album Lukombo Vibes, yet in 1977 Chanda departed to pursue further education and a teaching career, fracturing the lineup. A reconfigured Witch persisted with recordings into the mid-1980s, shifting toward disco textures on Movin’ On (1980) and Kuomboka (1984) before activity ceased around that period. In the twenty-first century, collectors seeking distinctive global rock recordings rediscovered the band, prompting the German reissue imprint Shadoks to issue fresh CD editions of Introduction and Lazy Bones!!. In 2011 the American label Now Again Records unveiled the box set We Intend to Cause Havoc!, encompassing all five studio albums plus bonus singles and unreleased material. This project renewed attention, and by 2013 a Chanda-fronted Witch had reformed for live performances. Zango appeared in 2023, featuring contributions from fellow Zambian artists Sampa the Great and Theresa Ng’ambi.