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Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World

Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World (1989) more music like this

by Johnny Clegg & Savuka

When South Africa was still suffering under the apartheid system in the 1980s, Johnny Clegg & Savuka was the last thing apartheid supporters wanted in a pop group. Their lyrics were often vehemently anti-apartheid, and apartheid supporters hated the fact that a half-black, half-white outfit out of South Africa was integrated and proud of it. ...

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Third World Child

Third World Child (1987) more music like this

by Johnny Clegg & Savuka

"Asimbonanga (Mandela)" is an anthem already adopted by Joan Baez and others, while the title tune devastatingly discusses what it's like to be asked to "walk in the dreams of the foreigner." William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

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The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, Vol. 1

The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, Vol. 1 (1986) more music like this

by Various Artists

This anthology of South African artists surprised everyone by becoming a best-seller. It introduced worldbeatniks to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mahlathini, and Moses Mchunu and paved the way for Paul Simon's Graceland. Winner of The Village Voice's Jazz and Pop Poll for Best Record of 1987, it's an essential sampler of modern African styling, a ...

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Heat, Dust and Dreams

Heat, Dust and Dreams (1993) more music like this

by Johnny Clegg & Savuka

A nice album of pieces, with almost lilting vocals coming from lead singer Johnny Clegg, from time to time almost reminiscent of some mixture of Dylan and Springsteen. The guitar work seems slightly influenced by reggae, which wouldn't be too surprising given the half-South African membership of the group. Overall rather pop-like, but a decently ...

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Shadow Man

Shadow Man (1989) more music like this

by Johnny Clegg & Savuka

Another album from the multicultural/multiracial groups under Johnny Clegg's direction. The melding of South African styles with Western European pop is standard fare for Clegg, but nonetheless it always comes out sounding pretty good. There's a careful blending that doesn't always swing too far in either direction. The only real problem with the ...

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One Life

One Life (2006) more music like this

by Johnny Clegg

It's easy to forget just what a world music pioneer Johnny Clegg was. Back in the '80s he was the first to mix rock and Zulu music, and scored a few global hits doing it. He's still going strong, doing exactly the same thing he's always done -- but it still sounds great, and remarkably fresh and passionate. Perhaps his greatest strengths are that ...

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Putumayo Presents: South African Legends

Putumayo Presents: South African Legends (2000) more music like this

by Various Artists

A surprisingly comprehensive collection, this album from Putumayo really does cover nearly every South African musical legend that's made a name for themselves (with the only really obvious exceptions being Dorothy Masuka and Dave Matthews, though the latter's music isn't as rooted in African tradition in the first place). The album opens with ...

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Best of Johnny Clegg & Savuka: In My African Dream

Best of Johnny Clegg & Savuka: In My African Dream (2002) more music like this

by Johnny Clegg & Savuka

Globally, Clegg is probably best recalled for "Scatterlings of Africa," understandably the leadoff track here. If not his manifesto (which was established long before his international fame), it makes his point, the mixing of rock and Zulu music, quite succinctly and wonderfully -- and he was doing it long before it became fashionable (indeed, ...

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Thokozile

Thokozile (1988) more music like this

by Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens

Another exemplary outing from Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, this has a kwela-like swing to the arrangements. J. Poet, All Music Guide

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Chant of the Marching (1989) more music like this

by Sipho Mabuse

Another South African take on funk, rock, and Zulu pop, it has many tracks in English. J. Poet, All Music Guide

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Planet Africa

Planet Africa (1991) more music like this

by Various Artists

It's impossible to adequately present every African music style in an 11-song anthology, but this sampler does a decent job of spotlighting popular attractions and diverse genres. There are superstars Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour, and Alpha Blondy, plus crossover group Juluka, the internationally prominent Toure Kunda, and longtime South African ...

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Scatterlings

Scatterlings (1982) more music like this

by Juluka

A supergroup that defied racial barriers in their South African homeland, Juluka's album Scatterlings was the first introduction to the band for many Americans. Led by lead singer Johnny Clegg, Scatterlings featured Juluka's blend of African and Western rhythms, melodies, and instrumentation. Clegg delivered his self-penned lyrics in a warm voice ...

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African Litany

African Litany (1982) more music like this

by Juluka

Juluka's second release with Johnny Clegg, the first album by an integrated rock band in South Africa, went gold in three months. This first single, "Impi," was based on a Zulu war chant and was considered a call to revolution by people in the know. J. Poet, All Music Guide

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Putumayo Presents: Africa

Putumayo Presents: Africa (1999) more music like this

by Various Artists

If you're trying to be comprehensive, putting together a collection of modern African music could be overwhelming. Africa, after all, is a huge continent, and in the 1990s, it offered an incredibly wide variety of music that ranged from exuberant zouk and soukous to moody, jazz-influenced Ethiopian pop and the Middle Eastern-influenced sounds ...

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Women of the World (1993) more music like this

by The Mahotella Queens

Although usually heard backing the groans and surging vocals of Mahlathini, the Mahotella Queens can certainly perform on their own. A working unit since 1964, they show on this new release that their harmonies and leads deserve attention on their own. There are celebratory praise songs such as "Africa" and the title track, numbers done in both ...

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Best of World Music: African (1993) more music like this

by Various Artists

The ethnic-flavored Putumayo clothing chain had long favored in-store soundtracks of light-textured world music. It was natural that CEO Dan Storper should decide to branch out into the music business, and the label is now respected for its genre compilations and single-artist releases and envied for its impressive sales volume. However, in the ...

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Siyabamukela (1989) more music like this

by Amaduduzo

Amaduduzo is a powerful a cappella group whose unison vocals and intriguing mix of traditional African language and Christian influences make for a powerful blend of multiple spiritual sources. The 10 numbers have breathtaking harmonies, understated but clearly felt rhythmic counterpoint and superb leads from Ronny Bodibe, Daniel Mgudiwa and David ...

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Jive Explosion (1988) more music like this

by The Soul Brothers

A compilation of early-'80s recordings from the Soul Brothers, arguably South Africa's (and thus, the world's) greatest mbaqanga group. The recordings were all made after the death of founder Tuza Mthethwa, and both before and after the death of founding bassist Zenzele Mchunu (roughly half of the tracks feature Mchunu on bass, while the others ...

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Marriage Is a Problem (1991) more music like this

by Mahotella Queens

This is a nice album but wasn't there a way to find an extra ten minutes or so to get the running time up above a very brief 27 minutes? Shanachie's tendency to price their releases lower than the average market price is outweighed here by the brevity of the album. That complaint aside, this is a chance for the Mahotella Queens to step out front ...

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Rhythm of Healing: Supreme Sax and Penny Whistle (1993) more music like this

by West Nkosi

Nkosi started life as a luminary of the wonderful 1950s penny-whistle kwela sound, and was a creator of sax jive and the hard mbaqanga sound. This 1990 recording shows him in massive form, mostly on sax but also on penny whistle, backed by a bunch of equally talented colleagues in a nifty display of classic township jive -- one of Africa's very ...

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Phezulu Eghudeni (1984) more music like this

by Mahotella Queens

The Mahotella Queens' Putting on the Light is a terrific 12-track collection that pulls together a variety of tracks the group recorded in various incarnations, from group efforts by the Queens and Mthunzini Girls to solo efforts by Mahlathini and Indodaumahlathini. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

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Homeland: A Collection of Black South African Music (1988) more music like this

by Various Artists

This collection featuring various South African artists spotlights the region's stylistic range and idiomatic diversity. There's the frenetic sound of The Boyoyo Boys, Nkuku and Jopie Sisters and the Newcastle Five Roses, as well as individual vocalists like Percy Kay, Dilka and Ivangeli Loxolo. Both modern and classic approaches are presented, ...

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Back in Town (1987) more music like this

by The Boyoyo Boys

The Boyoyo Boys, among South Africa's premier township ensembles, had to regroup following the 1984 slaying of drummer Archie Mohlala. They took a break before regrouping for this smashing comeback set in 1987. The ten tracks on this CD were prototype Boyoyo Boys material; all were three-minute, steaming workouts with punchy guitar lines, torrid ...

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The Lion Roars (1991) more music like this

by Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens

A comeback album of sorts for the Mahotella Queens, who had more or less recently come out of retirement (actually a few years prior). Here, they team with Mahlathini, the king of groaners (and their usual cohort). Production is covered by Marks Mankswane, a guitarist and leader of the Makgona Tsohle Band, who generally backs both Mahlathini and ...

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The Lion of Soweto (1987) more music like this

by Mahlathini

This compilation introduced Mahlathini to the rest of the world. Primal, growling mbaqanga (with backing vocals by the Mahotella Queens), it prompted many critics to call Mahlathini the "Howlin' Wolf of South Africa." J. Poet, All Music Guide

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