Zulu Choral Music From South Africa, 1930s-1960s

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 8, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder
• ASIN: B00000038J
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,169 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Jim Takata Kanjani - Bantu Glee Singers

2. Hewu ! Kwaqaqamba Amathambo - Crocodiles

3. Ina Ma Wala - Fear No Harm Choir

4. Kuyekeleni Kukule - African Zulu Male Voice Choir

5. Mbube - Soloman Linda's Original Evening Birds

6. Ngazuia Emagumeni - Soloman Linda's Evening Birds

7. Anoku Gonda - Soloman Linda's Evening Birds

8. Yek' Emarabini - Shooting Stars

9. Izindaba Ezinkulu Zika Kawa - Morning Light Choir

10. Hamba Stutubaker - Dundee Wandering Singers

11. Ngi-E Kaya - Natal Champions

12. Asigoduke - Crocodiles

13. Asasangibhaleli - Durban Crocodiles

14. Cothaza Mfana - Scorpions

15. Mus' Ukuqubuda - King Star Brothers

16. Umama Lo - Ladysmith Mambazo

Editorial Reviews

CD consists of 16 songs. "Technical note: the documentation of black musical traditions in South Africa often has to rely on a few surviving, poorly preserved shellac records. The quality of certain selection on this album is therefore not up to modern technical standards."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff for S/A music fans, November 22, 2004

By 

Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Zulu Choral Music From South Africa, 1930s-1960s (Audio CD)

This is good stuff for fans of S/A music.

Solomon Linda & His Original Evening Birds' recording of "Mbube" (aka Wimoweh) is well known to S/A music fans and is on numerous compilations, but along with this we get to hear our heroes on some other songs. These guys were really talented.

There are some other mbube groups featured in unreleased recordings and well as ultra-rare recordings from SABC radio. Some of these tunes feature minor instrumentation via piano or banjo, but these are as much fun as the acapella songs.

All of the songs are in Zulu, but you get an idea of what's going on as the titles of the songs are translated on the liner notes.

As a bonus, we have the VERY FIRST radio recording of Ladysmith Black Mambazo (1967)-the group that made this style internationally known. Thier sounds has remained consistant through the years.

If you like S/A music, you'll love this. Get it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A smell of South Africa, May 6, 2001

By 

Ricardas Kunevicius (Kaunas Lithuania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zulu Choral Music From South Africa, 1930s-1960s (Audio CD)

This CD is a guide to South African music. It's reveal the roots of famous musicians like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba and others. The tracks vary from clasical chorals (listen to Mbube) to some African country music with nice instrumental parties. The only disadvantage is the recording quality of some tracks transferred from old LPs. Nothing to do - it's history!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real deal: an introduction into South African music, August 20, 2004

By 

Nicky "N Lotay" (Yorkshire, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zulu Choral Music From South Africa, 1930s-1960s (Audio CD)

This is a great recording. Featuring the original stars of "Isicathamiya" and "Mbube" type singing like Solomon Linda and the Evening Birds, the Crocodiles and of course, the current Isicathamiya legends Ladysmith Black Mambazo with their first ever radio transcription, from 1967. This album is a great, brilliant and factual insight into South African music, with the original so-called 'Wimoweh', "Mbube". The latter sounded very original and yes, more rhythmic than the American versions. The inlay and booklet features information on the songs and artists, with a great picture of Ladysmith in 1968 and Solomon Linda's Evening Birds, in 1941. If you want to listen to the music that made Ladysmith and other stars famous for what they do today, buy this album. A definate 5 stars.