I was listening to some old ’70’s music and recalling the dark days in South Africa when we were a pariah nation. Add to that the heavy handed legislation we lived with and music, homoeopathy and around about everything was out of reach or banned. Seventies music is a touch before my time but I do remember people talking and events going on around me.
Somehow we still managed to have fun. Lots of it. It was either behind closed doors or in neighbouring countries. Since rock music was banned, we listened to LM Radio which was broadcast from Maputo or Lourenzo Marques as it was known back then. We would trek to Botswana or Swaziland to see the likes of Eric Clapton in Southern Africa. Maybe because of our isolation or maybe because of who we are, but we had our own sound going on. For a local take on 80’s electro pop listen to eVoid’s number – Taxi Man – on You Tube. The spirit of Sophiatown continued from foreign shores. Hugh Masakela continued made music, just not at home.
Since then we have come a long, long way. We got our own township sort of rap sound called Kwaito. Take a listen to Mandoza’s number – Nkalakatha – on You Tube. You can’t listen to it and not want to move. I’m not so sure how much I like Die Antwoord even though they were at Coachella this year. The Parletones are more to may taste and another of my favorites. Lovers of George Benson will swoon for Jimi Dludlu. Better than Benson – if you asking me. Not that I am biased.
