By Gwinyai Dziwa.

A new African musical outfit, the Mambos, has been assembled in Dallas, drawing a rich experience in musical talent spanning decades. The group’s band members have vast experiences in Ghananian and Zimbabwean music genres such as museve, rhumba, chimurenga and Tuku. After opening in Austin, Texas at Copa Bar & Grill on August 28, they will perform in Dallas at Murphy’s Place on August 29 and another show on September 11 at the Lakewood Bar & Grill.

“We are excited to present our African culture through music, the group has a majority of their members coming from Zimbabwean bands, they will share music culture taped from Cape to Cairo, our audiences can expect to be on their feet for the longest – you just can’t afford sit down,” says Band Manager Clive Chinzou. The name of the group is reminiscent of the Harare Mambos and, ironically, the group’s keyboard player and bassist is Charles Jangano, the son of Green Jangano, the man who led the Harare Mambos from the late '50s.

Their fusion of various guitar strumming techniques and vocal styles will certainly mesmerize those that have a keen ear for eclectic sound. Band member Sydney Dzangare brings a strong background in gospel music as he performed with Pastor Charles Charamba as a keyboardist.

Lead vocalist and acoustic maestro Tafadzwa Soda also brings a unique vocal flavor to the musical output while Charles Jangano is the natural music arranger based on his 25-year experience performing with his father, veteran singer Green Jangano who is dubbed the father of modern Zimbabwean music.

Ian Mukwere specializes in the mbira instrument, known to Western audiences as the thumb piano. His hand brings the traditional element of “Bira” that most Chimurenga listeners have heard from artistes such as Thomas Mapfumo, the late Ephat Mujuru and Sekuru David Gweshe. Jacob Nortey – a Ghananian drummer brings the in the group the West African drumbeat popularly known in Soukous, Coupe Decale, Ndombolo, Makossa rhythms just to mention a few, while Elisha Shamuyarira plays both the bass and lead guitars. Clever Chitare plays percussion and backing vocals for the band.

The band manager Clive Chinzou is also the director of Africa Rhythms, the organization that made it possible for musical legends such as the late Lucky Dube, Oliver Mtukudzi, Alick Macheso and Kanda Bongoman among others to perform for Dallas audiences over the years. The Mambos will certainly bear the cultural torch in the West for the Zimbabweans and they need the support. The group can be reached at .