Tag Archives: South Africa

From Collective Trauma And Rage Comes Beautiful Soul Music

Zambian-born, Botswana-raised, and now Johannesburg-based, Moonga K., has just released a beautiful soul single where he addresses his trauma as a black man in this world. The melody came to him on the bus, on his way to the studio, and in a moment’s time, the song was ready.

In this strange year of 2021 we are also experiencing a sad, yet very important to remember, anniversary of the horrible Tulsa Massacre. Moonga K. explains in a recent interview how he felt triggered and angry after watching a documentary about the events in Tulsa.

“Just like any showcase of black trauma that every black person engages with, I was filled with rage and sadness, and I was extremely triggered. I had a studio session the day after with Greg, and on the bus ride to the studio, I was hit with the chorus melody and it was relentlessly playing in my head so I buried myself in my hoodie to record a voice memo just in case I wouldn’t forget. As soon as I got to the studio, I sent Greg the recording and while he was coming up with the drum loop, I just kept writing and writing, and in thirty minutes the entire song was written.”

In recent years Moonga K. has been coming to terms with his own growth as a young black man and he feels compelled to explore that experience through his music. In a recent TV interview the young artist also spoke about how important it is for him to be a part of eradicating gender-based violence and he now has a 20.000-word dissertation to prove his commitment.

Check out the single, black, free & beautiful below which is out now on all platforms.

Cover photo by Hylton Boucher (photo retrieved from Moonga K.’s Facebook page).

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Hugh Masekelas’s Protest Concert ‘Live In Lesotho’ From 1980 Being Re-Released

In 1980 South African trumpeter and social activist Hugh Masekela played a live concert in Lesotho, a country landlocked by his then oppressive home country.

Masekela traveled around the African continent during his career as well as the world. He played with Fela Kuti and Paul Simon. He set up a mobile recording studio in Botswana near the SA border to record Botswana artists.

Masekela released 44 studio albums and his last was called ‘No Borders’ (2016). On the cover it depicted a map of Africa from 1590, a vision of the continent before colonial powers put down divisive lines.

His impact is long lasting and now the 1980 concert in Lesotho is being re-released on vinyl by UK’s Matsuli Music.