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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THE SURVIVALS - The Big Mechanics (1989)

Anneko, ANN(0)686   
Producer: AT 'Rubber' Khoza

Quality bubblegum tunes from the former backing band of Ntombi Ndaba, (together known as Ntombi & Survival) on the Soweto label Anneko. Funky basslines hold it all together, best on tracks like 'Izimpukane' (flies) and 'Hot Stuff'.

NTOMBI AND SURVIVAL - Sweet Love (1987)

CCP/EMI, CCP(O)4051691   
Producer: AT Khoza (Rubber)           
Recorded at: Blue Tree Studios   

Upmarket bubblegum in the mould of Brenda & The Big Dudes. "Ntombi Ndaba was another female star of note in the eighties. Her career will always be associated with her manager and producer 'Rubber' AT Khoza as well as her backing band, Survival. In 1985 she released two self-written maxi singles 'I Can't Let Him Go' and 'Think More About Me' produced by Clive Risko and engineered by Jan Smit on Reamusic's Ream label.

"The year 1987 found her at CCP Records released a Rubber Khoza produced and arranged album What Is It With Me (Yini Ngami) with all the tracks self-written and engineered by Fab Grosso on CCP's Hi-Trax label. Another big hit of hers was 'Sweet Love' from the self-written album of the same name ... In 1989 her backing band released its own album The Big Mechanics under the name The Survivals on the Anneko label" (Mojapelo 2008:106).