class dismissed

here’s the last song, for this unit anyway. In future I’ll drop the teaching metaphor which has actually become quite tiresomse.
 Last word from Zola – a giant of Kwaito. Another great tune.

post script to lesson 5 – another fantastic video by Freshlyground

Yes! A complete fusion of sounds:look out for the distinct twang of the Mbaqanga guitar and uplifting bass that is threaded neatly through its groove. Nothing quite like a bit of township jive

some lessons in South African music: genres defied

Further to previous lessons (please look at them for the sake of my blog stats and your own musical education) here is a band that typifies south african genre busting. The beauty of good South African music has always been for me the way in which many bands embrace an eclectic [...]

some lessons in South African music: lesson 4

what’s this one? kwaito again – an important proponent of the genre Mandoza and some oke called Danny K- dunno who he is – that’s the second video.
The first video  is a band called Mafikizolo – i just  love their dance sound: don’t think you could call it Kwaito. Township [...]

some lessons in South African music: lesson 3 Rock

This one of South Africa’s greatest ever  Rock outfits and I think this song lets them down. It’s a litlle more commercial than what they normally do and the power of Arno Caarstens voice is dampened by YouTube. I’m afraid it’s you americans that are mostly at fault here, and the [...]

some lessons in South African music: lesson 2 South African Hip Hop

Lesson 2 involves a band called Max Normal and again this is a class video. It’s not their best tune, it’s not very Hip Hop and they’re fantastic live so a video takes away from some of their quality. Still it’s an excellent video, a good song and a lesson in [...]

some lessons in South African music: lesson 1 Kwaito

The first is by a group called TKZ or TKZee. Their type of music is usually labelled as Kwaito, a mix of township style music, Hip Hop and House, but this is a lot more Hip Hop in style. The rap is, of course, indigineous, not English.
 This is a good tune and [...]

south african in exile 2

You have to wonder why the official opposition went and elected a white person to lead them, again. If it wasn’t enough that they’re perceived as really only looking out for white interests, they have to go and keep the status quo by reinforcing this perception. Helen Zille will not build a party that can [...]

The release of the Cho video by NBC

NBC – what a bunch of irresponsible, unfeeling, total and utter wankers!

south african in exile 1

It is the 17th April and I’m sitting on my balcony in south west london. Warm, quiet, just the cars and the white stripes in my ears.Weather is a big obsession for safas. There’s lots of talk about beaches and big skies, warm days and braais. There’s also talk about rape and murder. Of quality [...]