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DISCOVER: WITCH

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W.I.T.C.H. — an acronym for We Intend to Cause Havoc — is a pioneering Zambian psychedelic rock band and one of the defining acts of Zamrock, a genre that fused Western rock and rhythm & blues with traditional African sounds. During the 1970s, they became one of Zambia’s most popular and influential bands as psychedelic and hard rock gained a strong audience across Africa.

Formerly known as Northern Rhodesia, Zambia gained independence in 1964 and began establishing its own national identity. During this cultural shift, local musicians embraced the progressive sounds of artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and the soul and funk innovations of James Brown. By the mid-1970s, Zambia faced political and economic instability as the country’s once-thriving mining industry declined. Many Zamrock groups responded with darker, more psychedelic sounds influenced by bands like Deep Purple and Grand Funk Railroad.

W.I.T.C.H.’s 1972 debut album, Introduction, became the first commercially released album by a Zambian band. The group continued recording and performing until gradually fading from the spotlight in the mid-1980s. A major reissue campaign launched in 2011 introduced the band to a new generation of listeners, leading to a reunion in 2014 and renewed international touring. In 2023, they released Zango, their first album of new material in nearly 40 years.

The original lineup featured vocalist Emanyeo “Jagari” Chanda, guitarists Chris Mbewe and John Muma, bassist Gedeon Mulenga, and drummer Boidi Sinkala. All were veterans of late-1960s Zambian cover bands. Chanda — whose nickname “Jagari” reflected his admiration for Mick Jagger — previously performed with the Red Balloons and the Boyfriends, the latter of which later evolved into the influential Zamrock group Peace. Most of the other members came from the band Kingston Market.

In 1971, Chanda performed with Kingston Market at a school function and was invited to join the group. They soon renamed themselves the Mighty W.I.T.C.H., later shortening it to simply W.I.T.C.H. Inspired by marijuana, Western rock, and soul music, the band released Introduction in 1972, making it one of Zambia’s earliest commercially issued LPs.

Their third album, Lazy Bones!! (1975), is widely regarded as their masterpiece. Despite the limitations of recording technology available in Africa at the time, W.I.T.C.H. developed a large following and performed stadium-sized shows throughout the continent. After touring as an opening act for the U.K.-based Afro-rock group Osibisa, the band began incorporating more local musical influences into their work, particularly on the album Lukombo Vibes.

In 1977, the group began to splinter when Chanda left to return to school and pursue a career in teaching. A reorganized version of W.I.T.C.H. continued recording through the mid-1980s, moving toward a more disco-oriented sound under keyboardist Patrick Mwondela. Albums from this era included Movin’ On (1980) and Kuomboka (1984). By the mid-1980s, however, the band had effectively come to an end.

In the 21st century, collectors and crate diggers searching for obscure global rock rediscovered W.I.T.C.H. The German reissue label Shadoks released CD editions of Introduction and Lazy Bones!!, while the American label Now-Again Records issued We Intend to Cause Havoc! in 2011 — a comprehensive box set containing the band’s five studio albums, along with singles and previously unreleased material.

The renewed attention sparked a comeback. By 2013, a Chanda-led lineup featuring Patrick Mwondela had reunited and resumed touring internationally. In 2023, W.I.T.C.H. released Zango, featuring contributions from fellow Zambian artists including Sampa the Great. In June 2025, they followed it with Sogolo, their second comeback-era album.

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