Musical collection from “The World of Africa” ​​No. 184

Every Friday, Global Africa Presents three new musical releases from or inspired by the continent. This week we focus on South African artists involved in international collaborations between folk, jazz and electro.

“Amfazi” from Marth and Belani Bobo

In Zulu, the expression “Nye Indaba” means “important conversation”, while“Indaba” He appoints a meeting of traditional leaders to discuss social issues. Indaba flute, This is exactly the title chosen by the French trans-oriental jazz-rock band Marthe and the South African singer Belani Bobo for their joint album released on Friday, April 19, in which they address specific social realities related to the history and current events of the “Rainbow Nation.”

South African stature, in particular, is the common thread of this record recorded in a studio in Constitution Hill, a stone’s throw from Johannesburg’s women’s prison, and intersecting with folk, soul, jazz and hip influences. As in the song Amfazi, The poet, born in 1984 in Mthatha (south-east of the country), sings the word. “woman” To assert feminine power.

“When We Love” from Black lives

And two for black lives! This group born in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement will release the album on Friday people of the earth, Which follows From generation to generation (2022). The recipe remains unchanged: bring together American guitarist Reggie Washington and his wife, producer Stephanie Calempert, and about twenty artists from different geographies (USA, Africa, Caribbean, Europe) and musical backgrounds (jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, blues…) to invite more Love, unity, equality and justice.

Jazz singer Toto Boane was born in Pretoria, South Africa, but has lived in Belgium for over twenty years, and has once again answered the call, particularly on the title When we love. As in his album Wrapped in Rhythm, Vol. 1, Published in March, it plays a text by South African poet Lebo Machel.

“Jedigidi ka Makhilwani” from Philimoncase

A radical change in style with the album ezigkinamba, It was released at the beginning of April and grew out of the meeting between the South African trio Phelimuncasi, based in Durban and a co-writer since 2020, and London producer Jesse Hackett, who had already distinguished himself with his group Metal Preyers, four years ago, along with Ugandan artists Otim Alpha and Lawrence Okello and Omutapa.

The nine tracks on this album are the result of three days of work in the studio of electronic music company Nyege Nyege Tapes, in Kampala. On this occasion, Makan Nana, Kira and Malathon confronted their qum music (a typical South African style of raw, minimalist house) and their Zulu music with the abundant rhythms, saturated noise and dark, psychedelic textures of the British multi-instrumentalist and former keyboardist. From Gorillaz. confusing.