South Africa Radio Show
This show explores the landscape of music from South Africa, including disco, 80s and 90s dance, Maskandi, township, and a healthy dose of jazz. It starts there, with a particular focus on two albums, with the first one being Celebration by Bheki Mseleku which features a load of heavyweight jazz musicians including Country Pine, Jean Toussaint and Marvy ‘Smitty’ Smith. The second featured album is Zimphonic Suites from Zim Nggowana which is very deliberate in its referencing of traditional music post-aparthied. Traditional music was heavily suppressed during aparthied and Zim Nggonowa was one of many musicians who sought to explore that music in the years after aparthied was abolished.
I Need Some Money - Perdu Edit is a tune that Guy Rolfe from Love Glove put me onto and it’s an absolute banger! I got it on vinyl four to five years back after hearing him play it as a party and I’ve gotten a lot of pleasure from it in the years since then!
There are two tunes from Hugh Masekela on the show, and he is an artists that I have been listening to since I was a kid. One of them is a brilliant version of Lady by Fela Kuti - not many artists take on Fela tunes and do it well, but Hugh Masekela does the tune proud here with a lively, upbeat sparkling version, full of 80s synths and great horn solos, as you would expect from him.
Bhekumuzi Luthuli was a new discovery for me when putting the show together. He has a great energy, and a very distinctive South African vibe with great finger-picking guitar, accordion melodies and rich African harmonies.
It finishes with a tune from the album that I have listened to more than any other in my life - Graceland by Paul Simon. It was on repeat in the car when we were kids, and I have never grown tired of it. The tune is Homeless and features Ladysmith Black Mombazo. This song, and the album, were very contentious at the time with many accusing Paul Simon of exploiting Ladysmith Black Mombazo, but from my perspective he has always been a collaborator and looking for new sounds. It ended up being a springboard for Ladysmith Black Mombazo, helping them reach an international audience and achieve huge success globally.
Full Tracklist:
Sakhile - Isililo
Bheki Mseleku - One for One - One for All
Bheki Mseleku - Supreme Love
Zim Ngqowana - Intlombe Variations: Ebhofolo (This Madness)
Zim Ngqowana - Celebrations: Chisa (Wedding Festivities)
Winston Manunku Ngoni - Yakhal’ Inkomo
Caiphus Semenya - Matswale
Lettu Mbulu - Nomalizo
Chicco - Modjadji
Oumou Sangare - Kamelemba (Spoek Mothambo Wassoulou Riddim Remix)
Brenda Fassie - Vul’indela
Mohatela Queens & Mahlathini - Gzette
Ntombi Ndaba - Do You Trust Amajita?
Penny Penny - Dance Khomela
Chicco - I Need Some Money (Perdu Edit)
Hugh Masekela - Lady
Bhekumuzi Luthuli - Banamanga
Bhekumuzi Luthuli - Endumisweni
Daniel Haaksman Feat Spoek Mathambo - Akabongi
Kamazu - Indaba Kabani
Soul Brothers - Mama Ka S’bongile
Miriam Makeba - Quit It
Hugh Masekela - Witch Doctor
Lucky Dube - House of Exile
Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Homeless
