WITCH

Witch (acronym of the revolutionary slogan "We Intend To Cause Havoc") is a psychedelic rock band from Zambia, formed in Kitwe in 1971. It is considered one of the pioneers of the genre known as Zamrock, a unique musical movement that blended psychedelic rock, garage rock, funk, Afrobeat and traditional Zambian music in the context of cultural liberation following Zambian independence in 1964. Buoyed by the voice of charismatic singer Emmanuel "Jagari" Chanda, whose nickname derives from his Mick Jagger-like style, Witch recorded a debut album that has since gained cult status, Introduction (1974), followed by Lazy Bones! (1975), another classic of underground African rock. After Lukombo Vibes in 1975 and Witch in 1977, including the local hit "Janet", the band traded fuzz guitars and electric solos for dance floors with the disco/funk albums Movin' On (1980) and Kuomboka (1984), credited to The Witch, before disappearing, partly due to the rise of authoritarian rule in Zambia and cultural repression. Rediscovered in the 2000s thanks to labels such as Now-Again Records, Witch returned to the forefront with a new line-up led once again by Jagari Chanda, the only original member still active, and notorious musicians such as Dutchmen Jacco Gardner and Nic Mauskoviç (Altin Gün), JJ Whitefield and Stefan Lilov. The new line-up, now touring Europe and the USA, has recorded the albums Zango (2023) and Sogolo (2025).