There are a variety of reasons “Zuva Rekufa Kwangu” is great – it’s one of the most effective fusions of reggae and Southern African music out there, it’s a fantastic example of Zimbabwean music, and the syncopated tango of upstroke guitar and bass, to name a few. Most simply, I love this song because it always makes me happy. I listen to it again and again is because it never fails to get me moving back and forth with a smile on my face.

John Chibadura became a well-known musician when he fused the Zimbabwean genre of jit (also known as jit-jive) with reggae. Sungura, itself, as his music came to be predominantly known by, is characterized by a balance of reggae-like offbeat guitar strokes, with its grooving bass lines and upbeat mood, and the more driving Congolese styles of rhumba and soukous. (The latter styles are often seen as Latin in origin, which is a mistake: in reality it’s the other way around, with the Latin rumba we all know from the Western Hemisphere having been influenced initially by the music of the Congo.)

I prefer “Zuva Rekufa Kwangu,” and music in its vein, to music that’s more strictly reggae because there’s more of a drive to Chibadura’s stylings than much of the reggae than comes directly from the Caribbean. This may be a matter of taste: you could very well prefer the more laid-back sensibilities of Jamaica and Barbados. Still, if that appeals to you, give this one a try. Reggae, after all, is fundamentally African in origin. As it is in the case of this song, I’ve found it’s usually good news when you combine it with its musical cousins across the pond.

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