Johnny Clegg R.I.P. (1953-2019)
South African singer and musician Johnny Clegg has passed away. He was 66 years old and died of the effects of pancreatic cancer. Clegg is one of the symbols of opposition to the racist apartheid regime in South Africa: although it was forbidden, he founded interracial groups. Long before American singer Paul Simon discovered South African music, Johnny Glegg was working with local Zulu singers and musicians.
In South Africa itself, Clegg is regarded as a symbol of the multiracial rainbow nation of the post-apartheid era.
In 1969 he founded his first interracial group Juluka. Their music was not played on South African radio, because interracial groups were prohibited under the apartheid regime. Juluka’s music is politically engaged: various group members were regularly arrested and concerts of the group often interrupted.
With his second group Savuka (“we are awake” in Zulu), Johnny Clegg breaks through internationally. Johnny Clegg and Savuka brings a mix of western and African music long before rock groups like Talking Heads or Malcolm McLaren, spiritual father and manager of Bow Wow Wow a.o. infused pop music with African rhythms. The lyrics of Savuka are often a mix of English and Zulu. In France Glegg is nicknamed “the white Zulu”.
Well-known songs from Johnny Clegg are “Scatterlings of Africa” – which was featured in the soundtrack of the movie “Rain Man” in 1988 -, “Asimbonanga” – “We never saw him”, about Nelson Mandela – and “Dela”.
Zulu Pow Wow -Maskandifest 2019
my best festival experience this year definitely was in South Africa in the city of East London, nowadays called Buffalo City, during the first big Maskandi festival on 2nd March 19….what an amazing pow wow of tribes!
Ngiyabonga!
The program was spread over the whole day, from noon till midnight so I only had the change to witness only a few artists and dance groups….here is my impression of that magical day.
Maskandi -Zulu Blues Festival 2019
next saturday I will be travelling to East London, nowadays called Buffalo City, in the Eastern Cape province for the first big Maskandi festival in that era.
Zulu blues
Maskanda or Maskandi is a Zulu folk kind of music, which has evolved and has become big in South Africa. Maskandi music is largely popular and mostly consumed in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province, given its rich Zulu heritage and significance to the Zulu tribe. In popularity Maskandi is the 2nd top selling genre in South Africa, after Gospel music.
In Durban the genre is called ‘‘the music played by the man on the move, the modern minstrel, today’s troubadour.” It is the music of the man walking the long miles to a bride or to meet with his chief; a means of transport. Maskandi music tells us of many stories of society, about one’s view of life and personal experiences. This style of music is distinguished by an instrumental flourish (izihlabo) that sets the tone at the beginning of each song, in a picked guitar style and rapidly spoken section of Zulu praise poetry, called “izibongo“.
The content is not always praise, though, and with pop, house and other influences Maskandi it has become more about the story telling ethic and the modern migrant culture, than simply about the musical style.
It is the music of the man who sings of his real life experiences, his daily joys and sorrows, his observations of the world. It’s the music of the man who’s got the Zulu blues.”
This Saturday Zulu troubadour Phuzekhemisi is among the best-known practitioners of the Maskandi genre on stage. Other legendary performers are Mpatheni Khumalo and Bheki Ngcobo a.o.
National performers expected to perform include Phuzekhemisi, Khuzani, Mbuzeni, Amawele ka Mamtshawe, Nkunzemdaka, Shushubaby and Ntombethongo.
They will be performing alongside local Maskandi groups, Lumanyano cultural group, Sivuyile traditional dancers, 4×4 dancers, Ichawne Lebhaca and Gadla Nxumalo.
Also on the program is gospel music and dj’s like Naak-Musiq, Butho Vuthela, dj Welo, Blomzit, Mjazz, Yoba and many more.
The festival is scheduled to start at 9 AM. Check tickets and prices at Computicket.
Maskandi Festival 2019
2 Mar – 3 Mar 2019 08:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Buffalo City Stadium
Arcadia, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
some text from source; davidsteinacker/Siphiwe Nkabinde
see also http://www.maskandizone.co.za
SA boogie/disco/Mbaqanga & some rare jazz
and a few rare field recordings as well….
AFRICAN SANCTUS – For African tapes, choir, operatic soprano, light soprano, shouter, African drummer, rock drummers, two percussion, electric guitar, bass guitar, piano, and Hammond M.100 organ.
rare recording of an actual auction of tobacco in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Published by Tobacco Auctions Limited, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia
Township Jive & Kwela Jazz -new Volume 4 (1940-1965)
This is an exclusive offer for readers of Soul Safari!
180 grams vinyl LP edition including Registered Airmail Worlwide € 20
Payments via PayPal. Fast delivery worldwide!
Downloads via iTunes are available now.
the fourth issue in the series ‘Township Jive & Kwela Jazz’ selected by Soul Safari.
Another outstanding collection of rare gems from the International Library of African Music (ILAM) Archives, South Africa.
Soul Safari presents Township Jive & Kwela Jazz Volume 4 (1940-1965)
Catalog nr. UP 2016.007 LP
Side A
1-Stamkoko -Izintombi Zesi manje manje (1965) 02:16
2-Udali– Maphela (1960) 02:38
3-Sabela –Maphela (1960) 02:30
4-Usana Lwam’– Mississippi Brothers & Beauty Diloane (1940) 02:36
5-Ukhiye–Susan Gabashane & Her Honeybees (1960) 02:46
6.Ukuhlupheka – Susan Gabashane & Her Honeybees (1960) 02:35
7.Umsakazo E Grahamstown– Alabhama Kids (1960) 02:27
8.Lizzy–Mississippi Brothers (1940) 02:17
9.Asinamali– Alabhama Kids (1960) 02:21
Side B
1.Baboon Shepherd–Black Duke & Peter Makana (1950) 02:35
2.Battle Of The Flutes–Black Duke & Peter Makana (1950) 02:37
3.Shukuma Duke-Black Duke (1950) 02:27
4.Duke Blues-Black Duke (1950) 03:00
5.Black John–Peter Makana (1950) 02:20
6.Blood Mixture-Peter Makana – (1950) 02:15
7.Egoli Zinyozi –Alfred Dlezi & Dlamini (1950) 02:31
Township Jive & Kwela Jazz vol 4 (1940-1965) coming soon!
Soul Safari is proud to present a brand new release
Township Jive & Kwela Jazz 4 (1940-1965)
coming soon!
Yuletide 2014 with Dr.Thomas Chauke & Conny Chauke
I would like to end the year 2014 with the great uplifting music of a long standing South African performer whose music I have discovered recently. As I am enchanted by his singing and guitar playing I want to share a few songs by Thomas Chauke and his daughter Conny Chauke
Thomas Chauke is a South African musician who was born in Salema Village in the Limpopo province of South Africa. He performs and records under the band name Dr.Thomas Chauke na Shinyori Sisters. In 2013, he was presented with a MTN SAMA 19 Lifetime Achievement Award.Since the beginning of his career, Thomas Chauke has released over 30 albums which all reached gold, platinum, or double platinum status in South Africa.
This YouTube profile contains a lot of music and snippets of various video-clips so a good opportunity to discover the man’s musical output. Unfortunately the voice over is not in English, but let the music speak for itself. Wonderful and inspiring music!
…his daughter Conny Chauke also performs and has released a series of albums in her own right. Here is a song called ‘Buldoza’ -written by her father- from the album with the same title released in 1993 on Tusk Records (QBH 1167). Mesmerizing vocals and some great guitar playing.
Conny Chauke Na Shishashari Nr.1 -Buldoza
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all of you!
New volume 3 -Township Jive & Kwela Jazz (1960-1965) available now!
180 grams vinyl, CD
A limited amount of ‘Township Jive & Kwela Jazz (1960-1965) volume 3’ in both LP -180 grams vinyl and deluxe CD formats -is now available for readers of this blog exclusively.
20 euro including S&H as Registered Airmail (+track&trace/barcode) Worldwide!
PayPal account required. Volume 1 and 2 also available.
So here it is! Soul Safari is proud to announce the release of our third compilation in collaboration with the International Library of African Music (ILAM), Grahamstown, South Africa.
16 rare gems of Township Jive & Kwela Jazz from South Africa recorded between 1960-1965.
Official date of release; October 31st 2014
180 grams vinyl LP -Catalog nr. UP 2014.006LP
CD -Catalog nr. UP 2014.006CD
Soul Safari started as a blog to showcase the music of Africa with a strong emphasis on South Africa. Now in its 6th year, Soul Safari is proud to present the third volume of the compilation ‘Township Jive & Kwela Jazz’, a collection of rare gems originally released as shellac 78’s in the period 1960-1965 in South Africa.
On this third volume the selection features the gorgeous close harmony vocal groups singing in the tradition of American R & B and doo wop. But always with that typical South African swing and sung in the Zulu or Xhosa languages. DJ Eddy de Clercq who initiated this compilation in close collaboration with ILAM, also selected a few tunes that stand for the transition from early jive to mbanqaga, a most democratic vocal style characterized by the typical ‘groaning’, a form of call and answer between the male leader (groaner) and female singers. Mbanqaga would follow up jive as the popular vocal music from 1965 onwards.
Kwela jazz knew many variations in which the original instrument, the penny whistle was traded in for accordion, violin, even a melodica, an instrument that also became widely popular in Jamaica. Similarities with uptempo ska can be heard in tunes by Kid Ma Wrong Wrong and Bra Sello featured on this compilation. Again an exciting selection of rare recordings from the heyday of South African Jive & Kwela. Truly music treasures from a long gone past.
All recordings were prepared and mastered from the original 78rpm shellac discs from the ILAM archives. The goal was to clear the dust and dirt of ages gone by, while preserving the original dynamics of the recordings and to keep the sound as little altered as possible.
iTunes downloads
Soul Safari presents Township Jive & Kwela Jazz (1960-1965)-Volume 3
Side A
01. Ngibosen Twist -Telegram Specials (1965) 02:20
02. Izwe Liyasha – The Young Stars (1965) 02:48
03. Ulowa – The Young Stars (1965) 02:29
04. Intogeymy -The Lower Buttons (1964) 02:23
05. Nylon -The Lower Buttons (1964) 02:53
06. Kudala Ngizula -Cowboy Superman & His Cowboy Sisters (1960) 02:15
07. Manka Binde -Que Sisters (1962) 02:46
08 Nice Time -Que Sisters (1962) 02:41
Side B
01. Mangothobane -Flying Jazz Queens (1965) 02:17
02. Wamuhle Lomfana -Flying Jazz Queens (1965) 02:26
03. Unjak’ Upelile -Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje (1965) 02:2
04. Five Two Six -Kid Ma Wrong Wrong (1965) 02:22
05. Gumba Gumba 800-Kid Ma Wrong Wrong (1965) 02:22
06. Seven Stitches -Kid Ma Wrong Wrong (1965) 02:23
07. Rock Phata 1001-Kid Ma Wrong Wrong with the SDV Swing Band (1965) 02:39
08. Lulu Part 4 –Bra Sello (1960) 02:24
This compilation ℗ + © 2014 Ubuntu Publishing. All rights reserved
Marketed by Ubuntu Publishing. Distributed by Rush Hour-Amsterdam, Nieuwe Zijdsvoorburgwal 130 B, 1012ST Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Check out our other releases
Township Jive & Kwela Jazz Volume 1(1940-1960)
Township Jive & Kwela Jazz Volume 2
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