Track Listing

1. Lundu Jive Simanje
2. Nasibeko Lumba
3. Singano Jive No. 8
4. Tiye Tiye Loko Jivee
5. 4-5-6 Kulakwa
6. Malume Zikomo Sinjonjo
7. Mapasa Jive
8. Mwana Kulilalila Jive
9. Chimanga Kwa Singano Lelo (Talk)
10. Kanyodole Simanje
11. Simanje-Manje Afterbeat
12. G-A-E-G [Instrumental]
13. Tsoka Laine [Live]
14. Chikumbutso Lumba [Live]
15. Maria Roza [Live]
16. Amalawi Moto-Moto
17. Musandinene
18. Inu Amunanga
19. Sadyia Mbewa
20. Capola Kurhodesia
21. Anzanga Mukupita Kuti?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #284863 in Music
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Kwela taken to the limit
Kwela is, for the initiated, perhaps more informatively described as South African pennywhistle jive. Originating in the 1950’s and somewhat unexpectedly reaching the UK charts through the tune “Tom Hark”, which was subsequently resurrected by the Piranhas in 1980, kwela’s main strength was that it could be played on instruments that the township musicians could actually afford to buy. This was alas also to contribute at least in part to its downfall, as the more successful practitioners such as West Nkosi were subsequently able to move up to the saxophone at the earliest opportunity.

Donald Kachamba was something of an anomaly for a kwela musician, having been born in Malawi and eschewed the saxophone to remain true to the original pennywhistle sound. This CD presents a retrospective of his career, covering a period of some twenty years of playing and developing the form together with his own “playback” technique, an involved but relatively low-tech method of multi-tracking.

The CD is generally ordered chronologically, accompanied by an apparent underlying progression in musicianship and ambition. Whilst there are no obvious standout tracks, Kachamba’s approach to the musical form really demands that the CD be assessed in its entirety. From this perspective, the music is characterised by soaring feel-good repetitive melody lines and a range of tone that often belies the simplicity of the instruments being used in its production. It’s really very difficult to listen to this without feeling uplifted and press-ganged to move in time to the driving beat.

The one minor drawback of the package is that even the keenest fans may find it difficult to listen to its full 75 minutes without a certain sameness creeping in. Nevertheless, for anyone with a general interest in African music, this is a CD which is well worth the purchase price to be dipped into regularly. For purists, it represents a fascinating insight into the career of a talented African musician choosing to plough his own furrow for twenty years with little or no apparent yearning for widespread commercial success. Should the latter approach inform your interest then an added bonus is provided in the accompanying booklet, which provides detailed notes on the background to and musical approach adopted for each track.