Zawadi Yamungu performing Ngimuhle live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Q68lIF838
Official audio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bBa6VTmNM4
southafrica
Brenda Fassie – Black President
https://amf.didiermary.fr/brenda-fassie-black-president/
Black President is a song by South African singer Brenda Fassie, the 6th track on her 6th eponym studio album in 1990. It was written by Sello “Chicco” Twala, Brenda Fassie, produced by Twala and released on February 8, 1990. The song was written about Nelson Mandela, who was arrested by the South African apartheid […]
The Boy’s Doin’ It (1975)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/boys-doin-it-1975-masekela-fela-kuti/
The Boy’s Doin’ It is the 17th studio album by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela, recorded in New York City and in Lagos, and released in June 1975.
So many incredible musicians on one album, dedicated to Fela Kuti and the women of the world: Okyerema Asante, Orlando Julius, the rhythm brothers Stanley & Frankie Todd, [...]
#FelaKuti #HughMasekela #Jazz #OrlandoJulius #SouthAfrica #AfroJazz
Edited 20d ago
Thelonious Monk met Dollar Brand
https://amf.didiermary.fr/thelonious-monk-met-dollar-brand/
When Thelonious Monk first met Dollar Brand… By 1964, Dollar Brand (later Abdullah Ibrahim) had already made 3 LP’s as a bandleader. He was living in Switzerland and had just gotten a boost from Duke Ellington.
[Thelonious Monk and his wife, Nellie] were at Kongresshaus in Zurich where Monk gave another successful concert. After […]
#60smusic #AbdullahIbrahim #Apartheid #Jazz #SouthAfrica #TheloniousMonk
Edited 20d ago
Hugh Masekela & The Union of South Africa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/hugh-masekela-union-south-africa/
Jonas Gwangwa (1937 – 2021) was a genius trombone player from Soweto, South Africa. That’s him in the middle between 2 other South African geniuses, the late Hugh Masekela on the left, and Caiphus Semenya (born 1939), on the right, for their band Union of South Africa.
The album, released in May 1971, is […]
Edited 19d ago
Hugh Masekela – Don’t Go Lose It Baby
https://amf.didiermary.fr/hugh-masekela-dont-go-lose-it-baby-hot-african-mix-1984/
The original version of “Don’t Go Lose It Baby”, here in a remixed version, comes from Masekela’s Techno-Bush album in 1984.
Hugh Masekala and the Medu Art Ensemble offer via their album Techno-Bush an Afro-futurist vision of South Africa. Protesting through sound and dance, after returning [...]
#80smusic #FullAlbum #Mbaqanga #Remixed #SouthAfrica #Electro
Edited 19d ago
A quick selection of Brenda Fassie songs.
https://amf.didiermary.fr/brenda-fassie-songs/
In 1983, Brenda Fassie formed “Brenda and the Big Dudes” (with Blondie and Pappa Makhene), and that same year she had a breakthrough hit with “Weekend Special,” singing in the disco-flavored “bubblegum” [...]
#80smusic #90smusic #Disco #Documentary #Kwaito #LiveMusic #SouthAfrica #OldAfricanMusic
Edited 17d ago
Wrapped In Rhythm, Vol. II - Tutu Puoane & Metropole Orkest (teaser)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUN_jT407GI
Based on poems by Lebo Mashile from "In a Ribbon of Rhythm."
PS: see comment to this post for links to these albums on Bandcamp.
Edited 15d ago
iPhupho L’ka Biko – Azania EP
https://amf.didiermary.fr/iphupho-lka-biko-azania-ep/
iPhupho L’ka Biko describe themselves as “children of Biko” and their music as Afrikanist Experimental Jazz. Azania is their first EP.
In the bustling city of Johannesburg, black classical music comes alive through the sounds of the powerful experimental jazz group, iPhupho L’ka Biko. Emerging from the influential student movements of 2015-2016, this group has […]
Edited 14d ago
Mystery of the lost Mandela song
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mystery-lost-mandela-song/
Shortly after Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in February 1990, a South African equivalent of "We Are the World" was recorded to celebrate Madiba’s freedom. But the song and the video sank without a trace. Here, for the first time, the video maker tells the secret history of "The People Want Mandela" and how it […]
Edited 14d ago
Thukuthela, JAZZWRLD, GL_Ceejay - iNgoma Yomthandazo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUXSoX34Wcg
Miriam Makeba – Brand New Day
https://amf.didiermary.fr/miriam-makeba-brand-new-day/
The song “Brand New Day” is part of the “Keep me in Mind” album, recorded in 1970. At that time, Miriam Makeba was in Guinea-Conakry, after an invite from President Ahmed Sékou Touré, following major changes in both her own personal life and politically within the USA.
Producer Lewis Merenstein suggested two Van Morrison songs […]
#Apartheid #Madiba #MiriamMakeba #SouthAfrica #OldAfricanMusic
Edited 13d ago
The Hidden Years Music Archive is an archive and interdisciplinary research project dedicated to the preservation and study of alternative and popular South African music, established by David Marks in 1990.
https://hiddenyearsmusicarchive.co.za/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidden_Years_Music_Archive
Edited 13d ago
Hugh Masekela – Bring Back Nelson Mandela
https://amf.didiermary.fr/hugh-masekela-bring-back-nelson-mandela/
“Bring Back Nelson Mandela” is one of Masekela’s composition at the time of apartheid in South Africa, as he was a clear anti-apartheid activist.
Also known as “Bring Him Back Home“, the song is an anthemic anti-apartheid protest song written by South African musician Hugh Masekela.
#Apartheid #HughMasekela #Jazz #Madiba #QOTD #SouthAfrica #OldAfricanMusic
Edited 12d ago
BLK JKS – Harare
https://amf.didiermary.fr/blk-jks-harare/
The band BLK JKS came back after a 10-years hiatus, with their album “Abantu / Before Humans” in 2021 and a documentary.
"They are a seminal force in the South African underground. After an extended hiatus the Johannesburg foursome, championed by The Mars Volta and TV On The Radio (amongst many others), return with a […]
Edited 10d ago
Miriam Makeba & Hugh Masekela – Soweto Blues
https://amf.didiermary.fr/miriam-makeba-hugh-masekela-soweto-blues/
Freedom song! Soweto Blues, released in 1977, is a protest song written by Hugh Masekela and performed by Miriam Makeba.
The song is about the Soweto uprising that occurred in 1976, following the decision by the apartheid government of South Africa to make Afrikaans a medium of instruction [...]
#Apartheid #Documentary #HughMasekela #Jazz #Madiba #MiriamMakeba #SouthAfrica #AfroJazz
Edited 10d ago
Paul Simon – Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
https://amf.didiermary.fr/paul-simon-diamonds-soles-shoes/
“Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes” recorded live @ The African Concert in 1987 with Joseph Shabalala & Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The song features on Graceland, the seventh solo studio album by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon.
“Graceland: The African Concert” was given in Zimbabwe, featuring such South African musicians [...]
Edited 10d ago
Paul Simon & Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Homeless
https://amf.didiermary.fr/paul-simon-ladysmith-black-mambazo-homeless/
Graceland is the seventh solo studio album by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was released on August 25, 1986. The song “Homeless” was the first recorded by Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo with lead singer Joseph Shabalala. It is considered one of the first modern “WorldMusic” albums, although [...]
#80smusic #Apartheid #Documentary #LiveMusic #SouthAfrica #Global
Edited 10d ago
Soweto youth honour their heritage with music https://groundup.org.za/article/soweto-youth-honour-their-heritage-with-music-concert/
Zakes Bantwini – Osama Feat. Kasango
https://amf.didiermary.fr/zakes-bantwini-kasango-osama/
“Osama” is a song by South African singer Zakes Bantwini, featuring Kasango, released on 2021, as the lead single from his third studio album “Ghetto King“.
Edited 9d ago
The Parlotones – Overexposed
https://amf.didiermary.fr/parlotones-overexposed-2008/
I probably discovered the Parlotones at one of the annual Midem exhibitions I attended.
The song “Overexposed” is from their second album “Radiocontrolledrobot” released in 2005 in South Africa and again in 2007 with an international version with less tracks.
The Parlotones are a renowned South African indie rock band hailing from Johannesburg, formed in 1998. […]
Edited 8d ago
Bulawayo Sweet Rhythms Band – Skokiaan (1947)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/bulawayo-sweet-rhythm-band-skokiaan-1947/
Skokiaan (Tsaba Tsaba Dance) is probably better known in the version recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1954 with the Sy Oliver orchestra, but this track was originally released in Rhodesia in 1947 by the Bulawayo Sweet Rhythm(s) Band.
The tune found it’s way to the U.S. and lots of folks covered it. Enjoy!
Edited 8d ago
Somi revisits Pata Pata
https://amf.didiermary.fr/somi-revisits-pata-pata/
This cover of Pata Pata is from "Zenzile, The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba," released, at the end of 2022, in which Somi reinterprets 17 songs of Mama Africa with a jazzy approach. At regular intervals, we hear excerpts from an interview with Mama Africa who explains in no uncertain terms what apartheid is. Somi brought […]
#Jazz #MiriamMakeba #Rwanda #SouthAfrica #Uganda #AfroJazz #Apartheid
Edited 7d ago
One Night in Pelican
https://amf.didiermary.fr/one-night-pelican/
“One Night in Pelican” is a compilation that features all the key groups and players of a special time and place. It captures the musical dreams escaping from Soweto’s first nightclub.
Ten seminal tracks journeying through Jazz, Funk, Fusion and Disco, detailing the incredible story and sounds behind the Soweto nightclub during the height of […]
#70smusic #AfroFunk #Apartheid #Jazz #SoulJazz #SouthAfrica #AfroJazz
Edited 7d ago
Mafikizolo Feat. Uhuru – Khona
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mafikizolo-uhuru-khona/
Mafikizolo is a South African Afro-pop group formed in 1996.
They have won 14 South African Music Awards and two MTV Africa Music Awards.
They released their first album, ‘Mafikizolo’, in 1997 and ‘Music Revolution’ in 1999. In 2000, their third album, ‘Gate Crashers’, became their best-selling album. In 2003, they released Kwela which featured Hugh […]
Edited 7d ago