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Heavy Metal Africa: Life, Passion, and Heavy Metal in the Forgotten Continent
A sightseeing trip in southern Africa in 2007 opened the author’s eyes to an uncharted music scene in an unexpected rock and metal, alive and raging in the forgotten continent. Sparked by his own love of heavy music and an insatiable wanderlust, Edward Banchs travels throughout South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and Zimbabwe meeting the musicians and fans who, working with varying degrees of infrastructure and resources, pursue this music with a drive and passion recognizable to metal fans anywhere in the world.
From cafes in Madagascar to quiet, dusty towns in the middle of the Kalahari, Edward seeks to understand exactly how the musicians live and struggle – while experiencing the passion of rock and metal in Africa for himself. Along the way, he discovers the Africa he never learned about in books, leaves one country in tears, avoids fisticuffs with someone convinced he was spreading Satanism, visits Africa’s largest slum, contracts malaria, and even makes a bit of history in the process. All in the name of heavy metal!
With a scholar’s curiosity and a headbanger’s enthusiasm, Edward sheds light on the history, accomplishments and aspirations of African metal bands living their passions, and defining their generation the only way they know loudly!
From cafes in Madagascar to quiet, dusty towns in the middle of the Kalahari, Edward seeks to understand exactly how the musicians live and struggle – while experiencing the passion of rock and metal in Africa for himself. Along the way, he discovers the Africa he never learned about in books, leaves one country in tears, avoids fisticuffs with someone convinced he was spreading Satanism, visits Africa’s largest slum, contracts malaria, and even makes a bit of history in the process. All in the name of heavy metal!
With a scholar’s curiosity and a headbanger’s enthusiasm, Edward sheds light on the history, accomplishments and aspirations of African metal bands living their passions, and defining their generation the only way they know loudly!
- GenresMusicAfricaNonfiction
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2016
7 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Edward Banchs
4 books4 followersEdward Banchs holds an MA in African Studies from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies. His research on rock and metal in Africa has been featured in several publications, including The Guardian, OGlobo, Metal Hammer, This Is Africa, and FactsMag. A lifelong metalhead, he lives in Pittsburgh, PA, where he is planning his next African adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 18, 2020
Book is not the best medium for this collection
I struggle with books written about Africa, by non-Africans.
Let me declare all my biases quickly. I'm African. I enjoy heavy metal. I've met Edward Banchs and I'm a fan of the man.
However, the book, not so much. It sits in an awkward category between textbook and blog, sort of coming off as a well-researched diary.
The writer is obviously very passionate about the genre and his experiences but the writing felt a bit too introverted making it difficult as a reader to care deeply about the different people and bands in this book. I imagine it would translate very well into a muliple-episode documentary series where the benefit of hearing the actual music and seeing the different landscapes and atmospheres offered within the continent.
I think it is a great learning resource, but I came into it expecting a story and instead found a textbook.
I struggle with books written about Africa, by non-Africans.
Let me declare all my biases quickly. I'm African. I enjoy heavy metal. I've met Edward Banchs and I'm a fan of the man.
However, the book, not so much. It sits in an awkward category between textbook and blog, sort of coming off as a well-researched diary.
The writer is obviously very passionate about the genre and his experiences but the writing felt a bit too introverted making it difficult as a reader to care deeply about the different people and bands in this book. I imagine it would translate very well into a muliple-episode documentary series where the benefit of hearing the actual music and seeing the different landscapes and atmospheres offered within the continent.
I think it is a great learning resource, but I came into it expecting a story and instead found a textbook.
February 19, 2018
(Probably closer to a 4, but it's a local author with not as much exposure, so I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do).
I'm a bit of a genre-butterfly with music, enjoying the emotions that each genre brings to the forefront of the mind. Metal is part of a counter-culture, fitting into people's anger and drive for change. This book does an amazing job exploring the sociopolitical situations that bring a need for this type of music, from the class inequality in Kenya or the deeply religious views or the destruction of the environment in Madagascar, as well as what music means to people. I have unfortunately had a negative experience with music (in terms of the mediary creation sense), but it's books like these that show me that creating music can be a powerful force for change.
I also am not familiar with Africa and the cultural differences. I want to learn more. I want to have my expectations subverted. And I think this does a great job exploring the differences within each country. It really reignited my spirit for exploration.
I've also been trying to listen to at least one new band a day, and this has given me many wonderful suggestions.
I'm a bit of a genre-butterfly with music, enjoying the emotions that each genre brings to the forefront of the mind. Metal is part of a counter-culture, fitting into people's anger and drive for change. This book does an amazing job exploring the sociopolitical situations that bring a need for this type of music, from the class inequality in Kenya or the deeply religious views or the destruction of the environment in Madagascar, as well as what music means to people. I have unfortunately had a negative experience with music (in terms of the mediary creation sense), but it's books like these that show me that creating music can be a powerful force for change.
I also am not familiar with Africa and the cultural differences. I want to learn more. I want to have my expectations subverted. And I think this does a great job exploring the differences within each country. It really reignited my spirit for exploration.
I've also been trying to listen to at least one new band a day, and this has given me many wonderful suggestions.
October 24, 2017
A great read. Follows the author's travels through Africa meeting with fellow metalheads and discuss their struggles in the music biz, poverty, indifference or hostility towards metal music and political barriers to success. Well written and a very personal book.
June 4, 2019
I was a critical reader on this book before it was published, I enjoyed traveling through Africa with the author as he told stories of each country. I looked up much of the music that he writes about and really enjoyed the cultural eye opening that this book created for me.
August 22, 2017
Excellent book, not only you get to know great bands, but also the author makes great effort to touch social realities in the countries he visited, making it all a page turner.
March 2, 2017
Fantastic!
February 9, 2021
It took me some time to read this essay but it was worth it.
I'm impressed and have the greatest of respect for the author, such dedication to share his passion and make a change in the world at the same time, what a good human.
This book is not only about metalheads, it is a fascinating insight of what really is life on the African continent, for metalheads first but in general too. This is sociology at his finest and the honesty of each encounter, the feelings shared by people living their passion to the fullest is so inspiring.
A must read, really.
I'm impressed and have the greatest of respect for the author, such dedication to share his passion and make a change in the world at the same time, what a good human.
This book is not only about metalheads, it is a fascinating insight of what really is life on the African continent, for metalheads first but in general too. This is sociology at his finest and the honesty of each encounter, the feelings shared by people living their passion to the fullest is so inspiring.
A must read, really.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews