In the 1970s, Zimbabwe’s Wells Fargo made music reflective of their country’s political climate. Then known as Rhodesia, the nation was under white minority rule that held political and economic power. At the beginning of the decade a seven-year-long guerrilla war between black nationalists and the Rhodesian security forces erupted. The fighting coupled with economic sanctions from other countries created a culture of political and social turmoil.
During this time of social disenfranchisement Wells Fargo released Watch Out. The song would become a pro-democracy political anthem for those straining to break away from the country’s heritage of endemic racial oppression. At the time the track also saw them labeled “political agitators” by the country’s intelligence agents. They were barred from being played on the radio, and were blocked from releasing a full length album.
For the next four decades, the band would exist in limbo with their music only available through the increasingly rare 7″ singles they released to promote live shows. But half a lifetime latter, the band has found a new audience as a globally connected generation discovered their psychedelic sound.
Monthly record club Vinyl Me, Please is now partnering with Now-Again Records to compile Wells Fargo’s tracks and finally release their long overdue full album. In the lead up to the release, we revisit the band’s almost forgotten history through their own photo archive. The images remind fans that although their music brought them a huge amount of stress it was also a catalyst for change and some amazing looking shows. You can stream the album here.
Credits
Text Wendy Syfret
Images courtesy of Now-Again Records