Over the course of its history, this rainbow nation with 11 official languages has nurtured many musical styles, including mbaqanga, kwela and township jive, among others. While South Africans have endured many struggles, they have often used music as a tool to protest and to express their hopes for a better future.
Putumayo’s South Africa CD is a fusion of the traditional and contemporary, with legends like the late singer and political activist Miriam Makeba, who mixed kwela and township jive on Orlando, a tribute to the Soweto township of the same name. The Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir and mbaqanga pioneers Soul Brothers are just two of the internationally renowned groups featured on this collection, as well as Nibs van der Spuy who plays extensively across Europe and contributes a stirring ballad from his acclaimed 2007 album of the same name, Beautiful Feet.
The exciting new wave of South African music is represented here by hip and soulful Blk Sonshine, urban reggae and R&B singer Zoro and the popular kwaito-infused grooves of Kaya. Newcomer Bholoja, who hails from the adjoining nation of Swaziland and sings in Swati (one of South Africa’s official languages), has a growing following for his brand of ‘Swazi soul’. The album also features late folk hero and renowned anti apartheid activist Johannes Kerkorrel, who pays tribute to his beloved land in both Afrikaans and Zulu on Halala Afrika.
As with many of Putumayo’s previous collections, South Africa features a recipe by chef Amos Dlamini, of the acclaimed Moyo group of restaurants. He serves up a dish representing the cultural melting pot that is South Africa.
A portion of Putumayo’s proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated to Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA), a non-profit organisation working in South Africa to combat HIV/AIDS and advance human rights.
