Witch (Zamrock band)

Witch (often stylized as WITCH or W.I.T.C.H.) is a Zamrock band formed in the 1970s. Widely seen as the most popular Zambian band of the 1970s, WITCH (an acronym for "We Intend To Cause Havoc"), were headed by lead vocalist Emanuel "Jagari" Chanda. The band formed during Zambia's post-independence golden days, but by the late-1970s, economic collapse and increasing government authoritarianism, saw WITCH, like most Zamrock bands, playing daytime shows to avoid curfews, fading away.[1] This prompted Jagari to leave the band and pursue his career as a teacher.

After Jagari's departure, WITCH recruited Patrick Chisembele and Christine Jackson as lead vocalists. During this time, the band moved away from rock, and towards disco music. After the departure of Patrick Chisembele and Christine Jackson, WITCH's sound again shifted, now to further incorporate elements of Zambian music. This later iteration, led by Chris Mbewe, largely played kalindula music, exemplified in tracks from this era such as "Janet" and "Nazingwa".

After the mid-1980s, the band faded into obscurity and stopped playing live until 2012, when Chanda was invited to the US to revive the band.[2] As of 2013, "WITCH" is touring again,[1] with the new lineup including Jagari, alongside new members from the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland.[2] The band's previous discography has also been re-released digitally and on vinyl.[2]