Explore Sungura on Josplay Music I IV V is the most common chord progression, which is a major chord progression, just like in Makossa and highlife. The keyboardist supports the rhythm guitarist and bass guitarist; the genre leans more toward guitar and drumming. The rhythm guitar and the drummer are supported by the bass guitar. Because there are no other percussion instruments in the opening, the guitarist is the main subject. The drum is also full of rhythms.
Sungura (meaning "Rabbit" in Shona) is a fusion of traditional Zimbabwean music, Congolese rumba, and Western influences such as rock and pop. Just as the name depicts in Shona, the genre's music style and dance are agile and very lively. The instruments that feature in the Sungura genre include bass, drums, guitars, and traditional Zimbabwean instruments - mbira and hosho (shakers).
Influenced By: ChimurengaBengaCongolese Rumba
With Zimbabwe’s strong economy and absence of apartheid, the country became a popular destination for African migrants. To appeal to local audiences, these bands began singing in Zimbabwean languages and played a mix of Cuban cha-cha-cha, Congolese rumba, South African township jive, and Shona mbira music. At the same time, benga music from Congolese bands in Kenya started gaining popularity in Zimbabwe, inspiring bands like Kassongo, named after a song by Orchestra Super Mazembe.
Sungura evolved as a fusion of East African benga and Central African soukous. Its name came from the "Sungura Label," a record label by AIT Records, owned by POK Kanindo. As these records became popular in Zimbabwe, locals mistakenly referred to the music as Sungura. After Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, local radio and TV stations, along with record labels, promoted Sungura, encouraging musicians to adopt the style. Zimbabwean artists incorporated Shona and Ndebele languages and blended rhumba, benga, and soukous with traditional rhythms like masiganda and jiti, creating a uniquely Zimbabwean Sungura sound.
The Kenyan influence is evident in the genre’s name, as "Sungura" means "rabbit" in Swahili. In the 1970s, Sungura started to take shape with the rise of bands like Kassongo, Sungura Boys, The Marxist Brothers, The Vhuka Boys, Okavango Boys, and Devera Ngwena. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s, during Zimbabwe’s independence struggle, that Sungura gained national prominence.
Since Zimbabwe’s independence, Sungura has remained the most popular style of music in the country.
The lead singer sings with a melodic backup singer, and Support singers perform in chorus.
The whole musical composition are usually built around the chords I IV V.
Light, There aren't many instruments; the guitar and drums are at the front, while the other instruments play in support.
Sungura typically begins with the guitar, then the percussion, the main vocalist, who is joined by the bass guitar and pianist. Following 3/4 bars, the drummer rolls but concentrates more on the hi-hat rhythm. Additionally, he allows the guitarist to take a solo while still allowing the supporting singers to perform. Beside the consistent 4/4 kick rhythm which keeps the time, the most common hi-hat rhythm goes on about 7/8 beats per cycle.