"The Lion of Zimbabwe: Thomas Mapfumo"

This is a story about the power of art to produce social change, of music that helped vanquish apartheid, and the resilience that inspires us all to survive in the midst of political turmoil and struggle.

"The Lion of Zimbabwe" focuses on cultural icon Thomas Mapfumo, creator of the revolutionary soundtrack surging beneath the civil war for human rights, political dignity and social justice that toppled white minority rule in Rhodesia. His music, called Chimurenga ("struggle" in Shona), still resonates 30 years after independence.

Set with Mapfumo in exile in the United States as violence and corruption push Zimbabwe into a tightening spiral of despair, this documentary is shot against the backdrop of war in Iraq and the fear of terrorism gripping this nation. Mapfumo, broke and blocked by Homeland Security from entering Canada for a scheduled series of concerts, arrives early for his gig in Troy NY find sanctuary at a former stop on the Underground Railroad-- a sprawling historic mansion on the outskirts of the city.

We follow Thomas Mapfumo and his 8-piece band, the Blacks Unlimited, over the course of a week as they scrape bottom, re-group, rehearse, and re-emerge before our very eyes: the embodiment of Chimurenga.

"The Lion of Zimbabwe" features in-depth interviews with Mapfumo, intimate footage of his band interactions during extended practice sessions as they wait impatiently to resume their work, and a three-camera shoot of their triumphant performance at Troy's Revolution Hall.

Interwoven with this portrait of a political artist dedicated to maintaining his cultural identity is the story of Zimbabwe, using Mapfumo's own words (lyrics, interviews, writing) to recount the political and economic turmoil that has rocked his country. Archival footage, newsreels and other images from a variety of sources vividly show that history-- and Mapfumo's music brings it to life.