“A deep, detailed biography of a complex African musician and the homeland that has shaped his artistry. . . . An essential book for those who love the artist's music and want to know more. . . .” — Kirkus Reviews
“What emerges from Eyre’s account is a multi-faceted look at one musician’s life, and the effects that it had on both the people around him and the society of which he was a part. . . . There’s an evenness of tone here, and it helps bring together the many aspects of Mapfumo’s life into one cohesive narrative. And, as an added bonus, it may well introduce readers to music that remains vital decades after it was first recorded.” — Tobias Carroll, Biographile
“[Eyre] has meticulously researched Mapfumo’s story and the musicians who have played with him in Blacks Unlimited, and he tells their tale with impressive attention to detail. … All this makes Lion Songs an essential resource for anyone interested in Mapfumo and Zimbabwean music.” — Nigel Williamson, Songlines
“[A] a singularly insightful biography. . . .” — Andrew Gilbert, Berkeleyside
“For fans of African music, the album is a must-have. For those interested in the role of art in self-determination and the intricate and convoluted history of oppression and colonialism and the fraught aftermath of self-rule, the book is a must-read.” — Jay Mazza, The Vinyl District
“[A] remarkable history of the life, times and music of one of Africa’s greatest voices.” — Stephen Williams, African Business
"The novelistic text has an appropriately hefty level of historical context, and the attention to detail means that Eyre never gives the tale less than it deserves, ultimately enlightening the reader about the evolution of an entire nation, as well as its most famous musical son. The gripping read is thus highly recommended." — David Katz, Mojo
“Never evangelising or smoothing over stories to paint a ‘neater’ picture, nor sparing contrasting or even conflicting testimony of Thomas’s peers and family, Eyre channels the reality and difficulties of Thomas’ life with honesty and care. Meticulous and thorough research of his views, choices, struggles and relationships provides a rich and rewarding biography that conveys the strength, attitude and humanity of the man who became the icon. . . . I seriously urge every kind of reader--music lover, biography aficionado, student, academic--to lose yourselves in this compelling and essential gift from Banning Eyre at the very first opportunity.” — Zuzana Novak, Roots
“Eyre's long-standing friendship with Mapfumo gave the author access to vital information that sustains the argument of this book. … [T]his book documents the role of one man and his music in an Africa of modern nations. Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers." — K. W. Mukuna, Choice
"An essential book for those who love the artiste's music and want to know more. . . ." — Fred Zindi, The Herald (Zimbabwe)
"[B]ecause Thomas Mapfumo is such an important subject, and because Eyre has spent decades around him, the legacy outweighs the failures. Mapfumo has created a huge body of meaningful work and Eyre has stuck it out—an independent scholar on a university press non-advance—to get his story. Graceful sentences, acute observation, heroic amounts of research, self-consciousness about subject position and other contextual issues, a working musician’s aesthetic appreciation—it’s all here, and nobody else could have done it." — Eric Weisbard, Journal of Popular Music Studies
"Eyre affirms Mapfumo’s enduring stature in the canon of Zimbabwean music. Lion Songs is a fascinating biography not just for its closeup portrayal of Mapfumo, but also its masterly commentary on Zimbabwe’s underrated music industry." — Stanley Mushava, The Herald (Zimbabwe)
"[A]n intensely detailed and lucid work. ...Eyre is a musicologist, so when he explains the musical alchemy that went into creating Mapfumo's mbira-inspired chimurenga (revolutionary struggle) music, his descriptions are illuminating and technical. ... He also understands that the significance of his subject - a fixture in Zimbabwe's music and sociopolitical fabric for at least five decades - transcends the music he made." — Kwanele Sosibo, Namibian
"The book represents a significant contribution to the literature on the music and politics of resistance in the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia, as well as offering a highly readable and evocative story." — Marc Duby, Journal of World Popular Music
"...[A] must read for all those interested in Mapfumo’s musical and political significance in Zimbabwe, particularly the country’s struggle for freedom, justice, and culture. It is vital for historians, ethnomusicologists, political scientists and activists among others." — Mediel Hove, African Studies Quarterly
"[T]his authoritative biography narrates a life and career of a creative, complex, iconic figure...." — Journal of Pan African Studies
"In addition to being an enthralling read for any ordinary reader interested in the lives of music stars, this is a biography with relevance for researchers on politics, ethnomusicology, anthropology, cultural studies and media studies."
— Nhamo Anthony Mhiripiri, Africa
"Lion Songs is a richly evocative story of a life impassioned wherein author Banning Eyre ties the arc of Mapfumo’s career to Zimbabwe’s contemporary history. . . . A great fly-on-the-wall account of a life political, a life musical, and a life of love sans love-songs." — Felicity Clark, Perfect Beat
"Thomas Mapfumo, the musical Lion of Zimbabwe, has been fortunate in finding Banning Eyre, a worthy Boswell to his Johnson." — Peter Godwin, author of The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe
"Banning Eyre has done it again. Lion Songs is not just a fascinating biography of an underappreciated African music icon. It testifies to the way music can unlock the secrets of history, society, and the human spirit. Zimbabwe’s story is by turns inspiring and heartbreaking. Mapfumo’s life and art, so elegantly told here, lets us both feel and understand it as never before." — Bonnie Raitt
"In Lion Songs the reader follows Mapfumo's career as a singer/songwriter and uncompromising social critic through the last gasp of colonialism in Rhodesia, the liberation struggle, and the aftermath of independence. A skilled storyteller, Banning Eyre integrates his perspective on these events with his experiences performing as a guitarist in Mapfumo's bands, deftly interweaving his accounts with the perspectives of Zimbabwean, European, and North American observers and interlocutors. Against the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s political history and the global flows of the popular music market, Eyre provides an intimate view of the bands' touring musicians and dancers. He explores their artistic practices, their interpersonal relationships, and the relentless challenges they face in Zimbabwe, Europe, and in America where Mapfumo currently lives in political exile. Lion Songs is also the story of the creative genius of Mapfumo himself, and the moral complexities that surround his life." — Paul Berliner, author of The Soul of Mbira: Music and Traditions of the Shona People of Zimbabwe