30 October 2026 – Sampa the Great Releases Nu Zamrock and Reimagines Zambia's Psychedelic Rock Heritage for a New Generation

Zambian-born international rapper, poet and songwriter Sampa the Great releases Nu Zamrock today through Loma Vista Recordings, unveiling a landmark album celebrating the revolutionary musical traditions of her homeland. The record pays direct homage to Zamrock, the vibrant musical movement that swept Zambia during the 1970s by intertwining heavy psychedelic rock, funk, traditional African polyrhythms and socio-political resistance.

Sampa's personal bond with that golden era runs unusually deep. Her uncle George Kunda, affectionately known as Groovy Joe, was a founding guitarist of legendary Zamrock icons WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc). Reconnecting with her uncle's musical archives and tracing her lineage directly sparked the creative fire behind Nu Zamrock.

The album fuses vintage fuzzy guitar riffs with contemporary hip-hop, Afro-fusion brass and boundary-pushing studio production helmed by Sampa alongside Cadenza. Standout singles "Simon Says", "Can't Hold Us" featuring Mwanjé, and "Location" established the album's breathtaking scope. In "Location", Sampa directly confronts the geographic inequities facing African artists seeking global recognition within Western-dominated distribution channels.

Sampa will celebrate the release with an intimate concert at London's Blue Note on November 4 before embarking on dates across Southern Africa. Nu Zamrock demonstrates that true musical innovation does not require turning your back on ancestral roots—sometimes the most exhilarating future begins when you discover that your own family helped invent psychedelic rock fifty years ago. Explore more world-spanning sounds in our global music hub.