T-GROUP - Luambo (1991)

Beat City/Tusk, QBH1143

Producer: Ananias Maphwanya

Engineer: Lee Short

Recorded at: RPM

Venda grooves driven my guitar and bass but underpinned by plenty of sweet synths and organ sounds, with infectious call-and-response vocals that work best on tracks like ‘Ndokondelela’ and ‘Wo Ndingelani’. Composed and produced by Ananias Maphwanya (Gift Brothers).

GIFT BROTHERS - Mune Wanga (1990)

Tusk, QBH1128

Producer: Ananias Maphwanya

Engineers: Darryl Heilbrunn & Peter Pearlson

Recorded at: RPM

Produced by Ananias Maphwanya, Mune Wanga (my father) is great album of guitar-driven grooves from the often overlooked Venda region of South Africa bordering Zimbabwe, which from 1979 to 94 was a 'bantustan' puppet state. 

Mint copies of this album are for sale here.

VENDA KIDS - Wake-Up (1985)

Leopard/Hit City, LEO(A)085

Producers: Banzi Khubeka & John Galanakis

Engineer: John Galanakis

Composer: S. Singo

Recorded at: Platinum

Early album by the Venda Kids, a popular family band featuring the Singo brothers Ntango, Makana and Ndivha, along with others, with tracks composed by their dad Samson Singo and produced by the Hit City duo of Banzi Kubheka and John Galanakis (who also recorded together as Banjo). Benefitting from impressive guitar skills and some smooth synths, what gave the band their signature sound was a chorus of adolescent vocals. Titles include 'Goodbye Baby', 'What is the Matter with You', 'I am an Orphan' and and the gospel 'I want to Follow my Lord'. The album was followed in 1986 by The Lord is my Shepherd. By 1989 they had shortened their name to the V Kids and released the album Rambo.

ADZIAMBEYI BAND - Volume 7: Putani Dzanu (1991)

Zim/Mpumelelo/Beat City/Tusk, QBH1141

Producer: S. Depete & A. Maphwanya

Engineer: Richard Austen

Composer: Elias Sirwali

Recorded at: RPM Studios

The Adziambeyi (usually spelt Adziambei) Band is a Tshivenda group founded in 1982 by Elias Maele Sirwali in the rural north-east of the country. He was later joined by his older brother Tshivhangwaho Raedani, Johannes Kwinda and Sarah Masindi. They released their first album, Midzimu ya Madimoni, in 1983 and remained popular into the 90s before disbanding, only to reunite in 2012 for the release of a new album, Shango lo Takala in 2012, followed by Mutula Gole in 2013. Sadly Raedani passed away in 2013.

THE V KIDS - Rambo (1989)

Leopard/Hit City, LEO(O)019   
Producer: John Galanakis   
Engineers: Deran McNamara & Ilan Kometz   
Composer: Samson Singo   
Recorded at: Platinum Recordings Studios

South Africa's answer to New Edition or Menudo, The V Kids were a popular Venda boy-band known for their  hypnotic synths and frantic adolescent vocals. Formed as the Venda Kids in the mid-80s by Samson Singo, the band consisted of his sons Ntango (lead vocals), Makana and Ndivha (guitar), along with friends Emmanuel Netshifefe (drums), Tshililo Nemusombori (bass) and Madini Ramakuwela and Tshifhiwa Molizi  on backing vocals. Best track 'Botswana in 1986' concerns one of their first tours across the border.

TAKALANI BAND - Vha Mbengelani (1982)

Mavuthela / Black Hi-Lights/ Gallo, BL 360
Producer: West Nkosi
Engineer: Owen Wolf
Composers: Eric Mokhese & L Musandiwa

Rare Venda vocal album. Guitar-driven sound is less intense than its Shangaan contemporaries  and not too far from Zimbabwean and Mozambiquan tunes from across the border.

Produced by the famous West Nkosi (Mahotella Queens, etc). Standout tracks include "Nanga Ngoho".