Learn about Zambian psychedelic rock today on Worldview! Tune in to WBEZ Chicago at 1:30 PM ET/10:30 AM PT to hear Symbolia contributor Chris A. Smith talk about the band Amanaz—and his article for Symbolia’s preview issue. Stream it here. 
Zoom

Learn about Zambian psychedelic rock today on Worldview! Tune in to WBEZ Chicago at 1:30 PM ET/10:30 AM PT to hear Symbolia contributor Chris A. Smith talk about the band Amanaz—and his article for Symbolia’s preview issue. Stream it here. 

Meet Chris A. Smith

Chris A. Smith wrote “Ask Me About Psych Rock in Zambia” for Symbolia’s preview issue. 

What is your favorite thing to do when you get away from work?

I spend a lot of time seeking out and listening to new music. I’ve always been pretty obsessive about music of all kinds—from punk and metal to electronica to reggae to jazz. As such, the internet has been both an unalloyed joy and an incredible time-suck, as I’m always discovering new artists and even genres. Case in point: Zamrock, which I first heard about five years ago via an mp3 blog that specialized in obscure African music. I’ve done a number of projects in Africa and the Middle East over the years, so it wasn’t much of a leap to decide to try to find some of the guys who made this incredible music back in the 1970s.

What would be your go-to weapon in a zombie attack?

You can’t go wrong with a 12-gauge, right?

Did you always know you wanted to be an artist/writer?

More or less. It was just a question of what sort of writer I’d be. I wrote lots of terrible dystopian short stories when I was younger, followed by a period of minor-key Ray Carver ripoffs, before I found my niche as a journalist. I’m pretty happy with what I’m doing now, though someday maybe I’ll return to the dystopian stuff.

Chris A. Smith is a magazine writer, photographer, and college teacher. He has worked in the Middle East, Africa, the Caucasus, and at home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Something of a music obsessive, he first heard Zamrock via an obscure music blog five years ago and decided to track down those who made it. His website is ca-smith.net.    

Get Symbolia on your iPad today. You can also subscribe via our PDF Edition. In “Ask me About Psych Rock in Africa,” Damien Scogin and Chris A. Smith tell the story of Keith Kabwe, a leading figure in Zambia’s psychedelic rock scene. If you’ve already read the story, check out this great playlist of Amanaz’s album “Africa,” or learn more from Now Again Records. Symbolia is an eye-popping, jaw-dropping tablet magazine that merges comics, illustration, interactive elements, and in-depth journalism. Each issue of Symbolia is packed with in-depth and insightful stories by world-class illustrators and journalists. We’re turning the news into art. Subscribe via iPad today, or get our PDF Edition.
Zoom

Get Symbolia on your iPad today. You can also subscribe via our PDF Edition.

In “Ask me About Psych Rock in Africa,” Damien Scogin and Chris A. Smith tell the story of Keith Kabwe, a leading figure in Zambia’s psychedelic rock scene. If you’ve already read the story, check out this great playlist of Amanaz’s album “Africa,” or learn more from Now Again Records.

Symbolia is an eye-popping, jaw-dropping tablet magazine that merges comics, illustration, interactive elements, and in-depth journalism. Each issue of Symbolia is packed with in-depth and insightful stories by world-class illustrators and journalists. We’re turning the news into art. Subscribe via iPad today, or get our PDF Edition.

Symbolia has arrived. And we are so excited to share it with you. Symbolia mixes the best of comics art with thoughtful journalism from around the world. Here’s how to get your mitts on our preview issue today: Own an iPad? Then get our flagship iPad app, featuring audio, animation, and interactive infographics. No tablet? No sweat! Symbolia also has a PDF edition that can be read on any device. Subscribe to the PDF version, or download our free preview issue. Help spread the word: Tweet about Symbolia, or share us on Facebook. The Details: Symbolia is a bi-monthly digital magazine dedicated to incendiary storytelling from around the world. We’re merging longform journalism and sequential art to create an entirely new digital news experience. Subscriptions are $11.99 for 6 issues, and single issues will be available for $2.99 a pop. Our preview issue is free, and comes with any subscription. Symbolia’s preview issue features incredible stories from around the globe, including: Susie Cagle’s thoughtful exploration of California’s Salton Sea. A look at life in Iraqi Kurdistan by Sarah Glidden. Kat Fajardo and Audrey Quinn on evolution and a fish called “The White Man’s Office” in the Lower Congo River. The bold history of Zambian Psychadelic Rock, by Chris A. Smith and Damien Scogin. Andy Warner and Lauren Sommer tour the millions of microflora in our guts.  Coming soon! Ebook editions of our preview issue in the Amazon, Nook, and Google Play stores will be available shortly. We’ll also be building apps for Android and Kindle tablets in the months to come. Sign up for our mailing list and be among the first to know when these products are available. We hope you enjoy the preview issue of Symbolia as much as we enjoyed making it!  With love, Erin Polgreen + Joyce Rice Co-Founders, Symbolia Magazine
Zoom

Symbolia has arrived.

And we are so excited to share it with you. Symbolia mixes the best of comics art with thoughtful journalism from around the world.

Here’s how to get your mitts on our preview issue today:

Help spread the word: Tweet about Symbolia, or share us on Facebook.

The Details: Symbolia is a bi-monthly digital magazine dedicated to incendiary storytelling from around the world. We’re merging longform journalism and sequential art to create an entirely new digital news experience. Subscriptions are $11.99 for 6 issues, and single issues will be available for $2.99 a pop. Our preview issue is free, and comes with any subscription.

Symbolia’s preview issue features incredible stories from around the globe, including:

  • Susie Cagle’s thoughtful exploration of California’s Salton Sea.
  • A look at life in Iraqi Kurdistan by Sarah Glidden.
  • Kat Fajardo and Audrey Quinn on evolution and a fish called “The White Man’s Office” in the Lower Congo River.
  • The bold history of Zambian Psychadelic Rock, by Chris A. Smith and Damien Scogin.
  • Andy Warner and Lauren Sommer tour the millions of microflora in our guts. 

Coming soon! Ebook editions of our preview issue in the Amazon, Nook, and Google Play stores will be available shortly. We’ll also be building apps for Android and Kindle tablets in the months to come. Sign up for our mailing list and be among the first to know when these products are available.

We hope you enjoy the preview issue of Symbolia as much as we enjoyed making it! 

With love,

Erin Polgreen + Joyce Rice

Co-Founders, Symbolia Magazine

Keith Kabwe Khala Clip

Interview by Chris Smith

Played 19 times

“Its a friend who you love so much and you don’t want this person to take a wrong way.” —Keith Kabwe, former lead singer of Amanaz.

A quick audio excerpt from Chris A. Smith and Damien Scogin’s story about a Zambian Psych Rock band that was active in the 1970s. Audio courtesy of Chris A. Smith.