Sampa the Great explores her Zamrock roots on genre-hopping third album
Sampa the Great moved to Zambia and released 'Nu Zamrock'. The album let her explore her Zamrock musical heritage and family roots.
Sampa Tembo is the first woman to win an ARIA award for hip-hop. She also won the Australian music prize twice.
Tembo released her third album 'Nu Zamrock' after moving to Zambia. The album builds on her 2022 release.
It draws from her family ties to WITCH, a legendary Zamrock band from the 1970s. Tembo blends psych-rock sounds from the UK and US.
These influences came through 1970s Zambia, then through Australia, and back to southern Africa. Tembo speaks up against peers who claim African culture only after it becomes popular.
She delivers sharp lyrics about her lasting commitment to the continent. The album shows Tembo feeling relaxed as a performer and producer.
She works with people who accept her Zambian identity.
- First woman, hip-hop or rap, 2019
- ARIA award
- Won twice, only person to achieve this
- Australian music prize
- 2013-2019
- Based in Australia
- 1970s Zamrock
- WITCH band era
Why it mattersSampa's journey shows bigger conversations about diaspora artists. They reclaim their heritage on their own terms. They stay away from industry pressure to change who they are.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, though Sampa's early career in Australia from 2013 to 2019 shaped her as an artist now based in Africa.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
