MAKWERHU - Daddy Come Back (1990)

Reamusic, RML(V)2059

Producer: Enoch Nondala

Engineer: Jan Smit

Recorded at: Takk

Fronted by vocalists William Ngobeni and Patrick Mabasa, Makwerhu (Shangaan/Tsonga for 'our brother') were pioneers of the pantsula style that bridged bubblegum and kwaito (alongside Ayobayo Band and The Hard Workers). Their 1990 album Daddy Come Back followed earlier releases Education (1987), Mapansula (1988) and Mahlalela (1989). Over highly infectious electronic grooves, lyrics touch on issues of dislocation - absent fathers ('Daddy Come Back'), missing children ('Vha Kho Shengela') and migration ('Ngwana Enwa'). Other titles include 'Brother' and 'Living with the People'. 

AFROSYNTH XII: FREE AT LAST

The 12th and latest mix in the popular AfroSynth series, Free At Last is another celebration of old skool South African cool. Selected by DJ Okapi and ripped from the original vinyls, it features 15 upbeat, largely unknown tracks covering a variety of genres - vintage bubblegum (The Survivals, Vumani, Banjo); smooth disco-funk (The Rockets, Neville Nash, Fire & Flame), early kwaito (MM Deluxe, E&S Brothers); synthesized versions of traditional Zulu (Fani S'Khosana), Shangaan (Tsokotsa) and Venda (V Kids) pop; slick Afro-pop (Caiphus Semenya), as well as innovative studio experiments (Hey Fever, Choice!). As with the previous mixes, these songs capture the pain and hardship that defined life in South Africa under apartheid, and more importantly the people's growing sense of optimism and hope for a better future.

1. 'Play The Music' - The Survivals (1989)
2. 'Mr Jekejeke' - Makwerhu (1987)
3. 'Makhanana' - Tsokotsa (1986)
4. 'Botswana in 1986' – The V Kids (1989)
5. 'The Sneezing Song' - Hey Fever! (1984)
6. 'Gimme a Break' - The Rockets (1986)
7. 'Be Free My People' - MM Deluxe (1990)
8. 'Bomba' - E&S Brothers (1987)
9. 'Midnight Train' - Vumani (1986)
10. 'iPansula' - Fani S'khosana (1984)
11. 'Whole Lot of Love' - Fire and Flame (1985)
12. 'Feel It' - Neville Nash (1986)
13. 'Free at Last (Ghetto Mix)' - Choice! (1990)
14. 'Ndi-kulindile' - Caiphus Semenya (1991)
15. 'No No No, No More' - Banjo (1985)

compiled by DJ Okapi
Johannesburg, December 2012

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MAKWERHU - Education (1987)

Reamusic/EMI    RML(O)2007   
Producer: Enoch Nondala   
Engineer: Fernando 'Hotmix' Perdigao       

Funky Shangaan disco. The title track urges the youth to return to school, during a time when many had distanced themselves from apartheid-era education, while 'Hobo' addresses the widespread poverty that remains today. Education was followed by Mapansula (1988) and Mahlalela (1989).

MAKWERHU - Mahlalela (1989)

REAMUSIC/EMI, RML(V)2027
Producer: Enoch Nondala
Engineer: Jan Smit
Recorded at: TAKK Studios

Six songs, three languages, four legs? Great cover photo by Tini Martens. "The eighties saw the mushrooming of 'Mapantsula' dance groups both in urban and rural areas... Makwerhu was a Reamusic artist produced by Enoch Nondala. His 1988 album, Mapansula, engineered by J Smit featured the title track and 'Bhasobha'." (Mojapelo 2008:76). Nondala also produced reggae outfit Prince and the Buffaloes.