Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music

378 Pages·2009·1.7 MB·English

by  Max Mojapelo

BEYOND MEMORY
RecoRding
the histoRy, MoMents and MeMoRies
of south afRican Music
from the diary of Max Mojapelo
edited by sello galane
AFRICAN
MINDS
Published in 2008 by
african Minds
4 eccleston Place
somerset West 7130
south africa
www.africanminds.co.za
originated by KaMR – Kgapana african Music Records
12 Rio grande street, Westenburg, 1699, Polokwane, sa
[email protected]
P.o. Box 968 oliefantsfontein, 1665
copyright © 2008 by thamagana Maxwell Mojapelo
all rights are reserved. no part of this book may be used or reproduced or utilised in any
form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher.
isBn 978-1-920299-28-6
Produced by coMPRess.dsl www.compressdsl.com
Proofread by Karen van eden
cover images:
2
1
3
1. chris Ledochowski / south (africanpictures.net)
2. Motlhalefi Mahlabe / south (africanpictures.net)
4 3. Paul Weinberg / south (africanpictures.net)
4. Rodney Barnett / south (africanpictures.net)
great care has been taken to acknowledge all sources used in this book. if, through an
inadvertent oversight on our part, any information has been used without acknowledgement
thereof, we undertake to correct the matter as soon as it is brought to our attention.
equal care has been taken to spell correctly the names of bands, their members and other
people who appear in this book. however, should you note any incorrect spelling(s), please
e-mail the publisher on [email protected] and we shall make the necessary corrections
to future editions.
Ebook ISBNs
Ebrary 978-1-920355-88-3
MyiLibrary 978-1-920355-89-0
Adobe Digital Edition 978-1-920355-90-6
t
he first copy of Beyond Memory was presented to the first state president
of the democratic, non-racial and non-sexist Republic of south africa, dr
R.n. Mandela, on his 90th Birthday.
thanK you tata
as a child i learned you were a Prisoner
your Rivonia trial became a Protest
Later history taught me you were a Prince.
on the island you were Prominent
to millions of Blacks you were a Prophet.
on your release you wished us Prosperity
Reconciliation is what you Preached.
through the struggle you became President
your inauguration was Prestigious.
as author your pen is Prolific.
you chose to be a Premier Pensioner
you continue to be our Principal.
a globe-trotter who champions Projects
you make all south africans Proud
not long ago you rushed to Paris
to save humanity from Perish.
your 46664 campaign is a Platform
to fight the hiV/aids Plague.
arrow, arrow shoot away Prostate
arrow, please shoot away ulcer
arrow, kindly shoot away cancer.
Mother, Mother, Mother nature
father, father, father future
Please give him more coffee
no, not yet a coffin.
100 is Mighty
so is ninety.
iii
dedication
this book is dedicated to my friend, my uncle and my mentor, Matsetsebale
athanas Mojapelo, who was known to the music fraternity as “Bra Jimmy”.
he was the most knowledgeable, straight-talking, professional and progressive
person i had the privilege of knowing. his blindness opened my eyes.
iv
contents
acknowledgements vi
acronyms & abbreviations vii
editor’s note ix
Preface xi
introduction xiii
1. soweto soul Music 1
2. alex soul Menu and Beyond 38
3. Quick Quick 50
4. the cape connection 67
5. into the Vibrant 80s 72
6. Ladies of song 84
7. in twos and threes 115
8. When two cultures Kiss 122
9. the era of the steam train 136
10. ska flowers 157
11. new school 166
12. fine Male Voices 195
13. contemporary african Music 201
14. Joy or Jazz 223
15. exile Blues 263
16. trading in tradition 293
17 Voice Power 303
18. Welcome Madiba 308
19. Praising and Praying 319

Bibliography 342
internet Resources 342
index 343
v
acKnoWLedgeMents
these are the musicians, producers, engineers, and industry officials and
practitioners consulted before or during the writing of this book: sabata Koloi
Lebona, Mosa Jonas gwangwa, Mahwetša don Laka, tebogo steve Kekana,
condry Ziqubu, sibongile Khumalo, Jabu Khanyile, thami Mdluli, Moses
ngwenya, Kenny Mathaba, Joe nina, sello galane, Jaws dlathu, Rebecca
Malope, orrack chabangu, abram Mija, Master sechele, arthur Mafokate, Ray
Mkhize, Vusi Mahlasela, Rupert Bopape, hildah tloubatla, simon nkabinde,
albert Ralulimi, Moses Jabu dlamini, West nkosi, Blondie Makhene, Marks
Mankwane and Bongani ngubani. Let me also thank the many musicians,
industry colleagues and friends who knowingly or unknowingly contributed
towards the fulfilment of this dream.
MagaZines
Club, Jive, Drum, Pace, Hit City, Pulse (City Press), Inside (Sunday Times), True Love,
Ubuntu
neWsPaPeRs
City Press, Sowetan, Sunday Sun, Sunday Times, Sunday World, Mail & Guardian
otheR souRces
e-tv, saBc, gallo Records, sheer sound, Kora all africa Music awards, sony
Music entertainment, Risa (saMas)
aPPReciation foR youR suPPoRt
Mmamaje Mojapelo, Mampaka Mojapelo, Moss Matlalepoo, Lucas nocky
Mphahlele, ike Kekana, tlou setumu, Puleng nkomo, Lucas Mahlakgane, chaka
chaka Mthombeni, John Maluleke, Moloko Mashamaite, cyril ngoasheng,
Kgwathi Mothapo, edward Maahlamela, Klaas Mashilo, setabo Maphalla,
Willie Mooka, Professor sekgothe Mokgoatšane and my children.
vi
acRonyMs & aBBReViations
aBsa – amalgamated Banks of south africa
ac – african connection
afuBi – afro funk and Blues investigation
aids – acquired immune deficiency syndrome
aiRco – association of independent Record companies
aJP – african Jazz Pioneers
aka – also known as
aMaha – african Musicians against hiV/aids
aMPas – academy of Motion Picture arts and sciences
aPeu – anti-Piracy enforcement unit
asaMi – association of the south african Music industry
auaa – artists united against apartheid
ayB – african youth Band
BMg – Bertelsman’s group
casa – composers’ association of south africa
ccP – clive calder Productions
cd – compact disc
cisac – international confederation of societies of authors and
composers
cosatu – congress of south african trade unions
csR – creative sound Recordings
cWusa – creative Workers’ union of south africa
docc – donaldson orlando community centre
dPMc – dave Penhale Music company
dVd – digital video disc
efP – eric frisch Productions
eMi – electric and Musical industries Limited
fifa – federation international football association
fnB – first national Bank
fuBa – federated union of Black artists
gRc – gramophone Record company
hiV – human immunodeficiency virus
icasa – independent communications authority of south africa
iPcc – international Pentecostal church choir
KZn – KwaZulu-natal
MaaPsa – Musicians and artists assistance Programme of south africa
Macufe – Mangaung african cultural festival
MfM – Mike fuller Music
MideM – marché international del’edition musicale
vii
Midi – Music industry development initiative
Mitt – Music industry task team
MMfsa – the Music Managers forum of south africa
M-net – electronic Media network Limited
MoBo awards – Music of Black origin
Mu – Musicians union
Mtn – Mobile telephone networks south africa
Musa – Musicians union of south africa
nePad – new Patnership for africa’s development
ngo – non-governmental organisation
nPa – national Prosecuting authority
noRM – national organisation for Reproduction Rights in Music in
southern africa Limited
PansaLB – Pan south african Language Board
PaWe – Performing arts Workers’ equity
Poc – Prophets of the city
R&B – rhythm and blues
Risa – Recording industry of south africa
RPM – Records Producers and Manufacturers
RsfP Band – Reggae strong for Peace Band
sa – south africa
saa – south african airways
saBc – south african Broadcasting corporation
saBMa – south african Blind Musicians association
sadMa – south african disabled Music association
safact – south african federation against copyright theft
saMa – south african Music awards
saMPa – south african Music Promoters association
saMRo – southern african Music Rights organisation
saMu – south african Musicians’ union
saRa – south african Roadies association
saRRaL – south african Recording Rights association Limited
satMa – south african traditional Music awards
sos – save our souls
soWeto – south Western townships
ssQ – soweto string Quartet
tKZee – tokollo, Kabelo and Zwai
uct – university of cape town
uK – united Kingdom
unicef – united nations children’s fund
Wea – Warner elektra atlantic
Win – Worldwide independent network
usa – united states of america
Zcc – Zion christian church
viii
editoR’s note
Beyond Memory is a collection of Max Mojapelo’s diaries, written in a very
personalised style. critical details lie in the deep meanders of the history,
moments, and memories that Mojapelo has about the world of music in south
africa. Mojapelo’s style blurs the lines across styles of many literary genres. it
is personalised, conversational, reportorial, analytical and poetic – styles that
assume a kind of an african, free authorial narrative.
Beyond Memory describes, engages in direct speech and makes reference
to a myriad episodes of Mojapelo’s memories, and still tells the same story
that touches on the collective history, moments, and memory of the south
african music industry. as former deejay, powerful festival compère, former
station manager, writer of learning material for schools and a passionate music
development leader, Mojapelo has captured the details about everybody and
anybody that he has met and interviewed, as well as of those that he followed
on the airwaves during and beyond his years as an active radio personality.
Mojapelo’s keen eye on every turn of development in the south african music
industry and on those whose contribution has impacted directly or indirectly on
its development, shape and character, is commendable. it is both a longitudinal
and transversal record of the development of south african music and its parallel
links with the sounds of the diaspora. the biggest strength of Beyond Memory,
is on the one hand, Mojapelo’s sterling chronological classification of different
epochs of the development of music in south africa, and, on the other hand, the
themes alongside the rudimentary historical time line. the book therefore, does
not take the dry and trite historical nomenclature route of exegesis of historical
data. Rather, history ensues from the memory of the stories told in time.
for Mojapelo, it is a daunting ask to go beyond memory. he believes that we
often get trapped in shackles of ‘tabloidtisation’, and never go beyond memory
of unfortunate events in the lives of artists. in Beyond Memory Mojapelo evidences
that it is critical to go beyond such memory to the human spirits that the artists
essentially are. it is interesting to note that Mojapelo has chosen, throughout
his encounter with these artists, to search for humanistic elements of their
characters and careers, and move beyond a perception that views artists as mere
media objects that spur on wanton ecstasy and adrenaline in the world of ‘who
is who’. Mojapelo takes the readers through meaningful small bites of histories,
moments and memories in a manner that informs and avoids gossip. Mojapelo
takes the reader to a moment in time, so that once we have taken stock of our
ix