Boom Shaka
Encyclopedia
Boom Shaka was a pioneering kwaito
music group from South Africa
, consisting of Junior Sokhela, Lebo Mathosa
, Theo Nhlengethwa and Thembi Seete. Their first album was produced in 1994. Boom Shaka's first single "It's About Time" was released in 1993. This track (and others by Boom Shaka) can be found on Stern's Music website (http://www.sternsmusic.com/discography_detailed/665). Boom Shaka became one of the most successful bands of the mid-1990s in South Africa
and their music became the soundtrack for many young people in the newly democratic South Africa. Boom Shaka was able to break into the international market and achieved success outside of South Africa in London among other places.
Boom Shaka, being one of the leading kwaito
groups in South Africa
, has an extreme effect on youth audiences throughout the country. To begin, Boom Shaka was purposefully put together in order to appeal to a youth audience by presenting a new sound and a new style. Today, they are continually sweeping the charts and propelling in the youth audiences due to their distinctive sound, visual style, and dance moves. Boom Shaka is known for creating popular and distinctive kwaito
dance moves such as “Chop di Grass”. "Chop di grass" pays homage to the men who mow the grass during the construction of highways. This dancing is said to come from traditional African dance moves, continuing to make kwaito
a unique and localized South African music genre. For example, they say that their dancing comes from an urban dance of Zaire called the Kwasa Kwasa. These sexy kwaito dance moves add to their popularity. This uniqueness is propelling Boom Shaka’s music in the youth radio charts and on a global level as well.1
The major presence of female vocalists in the group, specifically, the artists Lebo Mathosa
and Thembi Seete have been seen as both modes of female objectification and simultaneously voices for the feminist movement. The style of dancing and dress has stirred controversy among South African listeners as it invokes a type of female sexuality that many find degrading. The artists, however, would prefer to see their music as a liberating force. This sentiment is especially reflected in their track It's About Time produced on their debut album, Boom Shaka.
Despite the group's lyrics, many listeners and observers find the discrepancy between their outside image and the message behind the words too great to reconcile.
A particularly historical example of this discrepancy came when the group performed the national anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
at the 1998 FNB South African Music Awards. [Reactions http://www.chico.mweb.co.za/art//music/9805/980514-boom2.html remained divided, as the charged lyrics paired with skimpy outfits continued to fuel the debate between liberation and degradation.
set up his own record label in order to evolve the South African music scene beyond the genre of Bubblegum. He then put together a group, containing a DJ, Junior Sokhela, Theo Nhlengethwa, and Prophets of Da City
. By manufacturing this group, an early version of Boom Shaka, Don Laka helped form the genre of kwaito.
Boom Shaka's leader, Junior Dread, was heavily influenced by Jamaican music through his uncle, who would play Jamaican music loudly and refuse to listen to anything else. In her article, "Mapping of Black Atlantic Performance Geographies: From Slave Ship to Ghetto," Stanley-Niaah draws parallels between Kwaito
, pioneered by Boom Shaka, and Jamaican dancehall
, stating the similarities are "political, musical, social, and cultural."
Boom Shaka, being the first kwaito
group and with the nature of the music they created, was able to unleash amongst young black consumers an explosive desire to disengage from the long years of oppression and political protest of the apartheid era. With the seemingly apolitical nature of their music, it allowed the black youth of South Africa
to no longer feel restrained by the need to comment on racial injustice and political freedom because the apartheid was over, and they no longer needed or wanted to.
As the first kwaito group, Boom Shaka contributed greatly to the early trends within this musical style. Part of kwaito’s appeal comes from its unique dance moves which were popularized by Boom Shaka. This group created dance moves such as “Chop di grass,” a dance which was designed to honor the men who cut grass while highways are bein constructed. Boom Shaka traces kwaito’s dance style back to traditional African dancing, specifically from the Kwasa Kwasa, an urban dance from in Zaire. This dance style has been seen as controversial and over sexualized by some, but it is undoubtedly a large part of kwaito’s success.
After Boom Shaka left their record label in 1998, the kwaito-oriented Kalawa Records because of controversy surrounding the creative ownership of material and disputes over their record royalties, the group sought a new recording contract that would invest in their vision and work to promote them internationally. When they could not find what they were looking for, they decided to do it themselves and signed only a one-album, 12-month publishing deal with PolyGram Records and hired their own management. In the process they have emerged as the only South African musicians outside of the country's biggest-selling artist, gospel star Rebecca Malope, to own 75% of their master recordings and 100% copyright on their new material. Boom Shaka was again ground-breaking and set a precedent in an industry that was known for taking unfair advantage of their recording artists.
Although Boom Shaka was seen as apolitical in comparison to music of the apartheid era, they were still able to stir controversy in other ways. In 1997, the group caused controversy by creating and performing a kwaito version of the South African national anthem Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
at the South African Music Awards
. Some viewed this as a prostitution of African culture for commercial purposes but the group saw it in a different way:
In addition, Lebo Mathosa’s dance routine and revealing short skirts caused often controversy and offended many who were shocked that a teenager could be so daring.
Despite their success, the group broke up after one of their lead singers, Lebo Mathosa
decided to start her own solo career in 2000. She achieved great success until she was killed in a car accident in 2006 at the age of 29.
Kwaito
Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 1990s. It is a variant of house music featuring the use of African sounds and samples. Typically at a slower tempo range than other styles of house music, Kwaito often contains catchy melodic and percussive loop samples,...
music group from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, consisting of Junior Sokhela, Lebo Mathosa
Lebo Mathosa
Lebo Mathosa was a popular South African kwaito singer.Mathosa started her career with the popular South African band Boom Shaka in 1994 at the age of 15, after she caught the eye of music producer Don Laka at a club in Johannesburg. She was one of the few successful female kwaito artists in an...
, Theo Nhlengethwa and Thembi Seete. Their first album was produced in 1994. Boom Shaka's first single "It's About Time" was released in 1993. This track (and others by Boom Shaka) can be found on Stern's Music website (http://www.sternsmusic.com/discography_detailed/665). Boom Shaka became one of the most successful bands of the mid-1990s in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and their music became the soundtrack for many young people in the newly democratic South Africa. Boom Shaka was able to break into the international market and achieved success outside of South Africa in London among other places.
Boom Shaka, being one of the leading kwaito
Kwaito
Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 1990s. It is a variant of house music featuring the use of African sounds and samples. Typically at a slower tempo range than other styles of house music, Kwaito often contains catchy melodic and percussive loop samples,...
groups in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, has an extreme effect on youth audiences throughout the country. To begin, Boom Shaka was purposefully put together in order to appeal to a youth audience by presenting a new sound and a new style. Today, they are continually sweeping the charts and propelling in the youth audiences due to their distinctive sound, visual style, and dance moves. Boom Shaka is known for creating popular and distinctive kwaito
Kwaito
Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 1990s. It is a variant of house music featuring the use of African sounds and samples. Typically at a slower tempo range than other styles of house music, Kwaito often contains catchy melodic and percussive loop samples,...
dance moves such as “Chop di Grass”. "Chop di grass" pays homage to the men who mow the grass during the construction of highways. This dancing is said to come from traditional African dance moves, continuing to make kwaito
Kwaito
Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 1990s. It is a variant of house music featuring the use of African sounds and samples. Typically at a slower tempo range than other styles of house music, Kwaito often contains catchy melodic and percussive loop samples,...
a unique and localized South African music genre. For example, they say that their dancing comes from an urban dance of Zaire called the Kwasa Kwasa. These sexy kwaito dance moves add to their popularity. This uniqueness is propelling Boom Shaka’s music in the youth radio charts and on a global level as well.1
The major presence of female vocalists in the group, specifically, the artists Lebo Mathosa
Lebo Mathosa
Lebo Mathosa was a popular South African kwaito singer.Mathosa started her career with the popular South African band Boom Shaka in 1994 at the age of 15, after she caught the eye of music producer Don Laka at a club in Johannesburg. She was one of the few successful female kwaito artists in an...
and Thembi Seete have been seen as both modes of female objectification and simultaneously voices for the feminist movement. The style of dancing and dress has stirred controversy among South African listeners as it invokes a type of female sexuality that many find degrading. The artists, however, would prefer to see their music as a liberating force. This sentiment is especially reflected in their track It's About Time produced on their debut album, Boom Shaka.
I'm tired
Of people always asking me
What's happening, what's going on
They try to see what's in my head
Why can't they leave me alone
(Chorus)
It's about time
You Listened to Boom Shaka
It's about time
You listened to Boom
...
My weapon is my voice...
Despite the group's lyrics, many listeners and observers find the discrepancy between their outside image and the message behind the words too great to reconcile.
A particularly historical example of this discrepancy came when the group performed the national anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" , was originally composed as a hymn by a Methodist mission school in Johannesburg teacher, Enoch Sontonga in 1897, to the tune 'Aberystwyth' by Joseph Parry...
at the 1998 FNB South African Music Awards. [Reactions http://www.chico.mweb.co.za/art//music/9805/980514-boom2.html remained divided, as the charged lyrics paired with skimpy outfits continued to fuel the debate between liberation and degradation.
Group History
South African music producer, Don LakaDon Laka
Donald Mahwetša Laka , professionally known as Don Laka, is a South African jazz musician, pianist, songwriter, music producer and entrepreneur. Co-founder of Kalawa Jazzmee and owner of Bokone Music...
set up his own record label in order to evolve the South African music scene beyond the genre of Bubblegum. He then put together a group, containing a DJ, Junior Sokhela, Theo Nhlengethwa, and Prophets of Da City
Prophets of Da City
Prophets of Da City is a hip hop crew from Cape Town, South Africa. They are composed of about eight members, though the exact membership fluctuates frequently; these include Ishmael Morabe , Mark Heuvel , Shaheen Ariefdien, Ramone and DJ Ready D. Their style uses elements of hip hop music,...
. By manufacturing this group, an early version of Boom Shaka, Don Laka helped form the genre of kwaito.
Boom Shaka's leader, Junior Dread, was heavily influenced by Jamaican music through his uncle, who would play Jamaican music loudly and refuse to listen to anything else. In her article, "Mapping of Black Atlantic Performance Geographies: From Slave Ship to Ghetto," Stanley-Niaah draws parallels between Kwaito
Kwaito
Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 1990s. It is a variant of house music featuring the use of African sounds and samples. Typically at a slower tempo range than other styles of house music, Kwaito often contains catchy melodic and percussive loop samples,...
, pioneered by Boom Shaka, and Jamaican dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
, stating the similarities are "political, musical, social, and cultural."
Boom Shaka, being the first kwaito
Kwaito
Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 1990s. It is a variant of house music featuring the use of African sounds and samples. Typically at a slower tempo range than other styles of house music, Kwaito often contains catchy melodic and percussive loop samples,...
group and with the nature of the music they created, was able to unleash amongst young black consumers an explosive desire to disengage from the long years of oppression and political protest of the apartheid era. With the seemingly apolitical nature of their music, it allowed the black youth of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to no longer feel restrained by the need to comment on racial injustice and political freedom because the apartheid was over, and they no longer needed or wanted to.
As the first kwaito group, Boom Shaka contributed greatly to the early trends within this musical style. Part of kwaito’s appeal comes from its unique dance moves which were popularized by Boom Shaka. This group created dance moves such as “Chop di grass,” a dance which was designed to honor the men who cut grass while highways are bein constructed. Boom Shaka traces kwaito’s dance style back to traditional African dancing, specifically from the Kwasa Kwasa, an urban dance from in Zaire. This dance style has been seen as controversial and over sexualized by some, but it is undoubtedly a large part of kwaito’s success.
After Boom Shaka left their record label in 1998, the kwaito-oriented Kalawa Records because of controversy surrounding the creative ownership of material and disputes over their record royalties, the group sought a new recording contract that would invest in their vision and work to promote them internationally. When they could not find what they were looking for, they decided to do it themselves and signed only a one-album, 12-month publishing deal with PolyGram Records and hired their own management. In the process they have emerged as the only South African musicians outside of the country's biggest-selling artist, gospel star Rebecca Malope, to own 75% of their master recordings and 100% copyright on their new material. Boom Shaka was again ground-breaking and set a precedent in an industry that was known for taking unfair advantage of their recording artists.
Although Boom Shaka was seen as apolitical in comparison to music of the apartheid era, they were still able to stir controversy in other ways. In 1997, the group caused controversy by creating and performing a kwaito version of the South African national anthem Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika
"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" , was originally composed as a hymn by a Methodist mission school in Johannesburg teacher, Enoch Sontonga in 1897, to the tune 'Aberystwyth' by Joseph Parry...
at the South African Music Awards
South African Music Awards
The South African Music Awards are an annual award ceremony, run by the Recording Industry of South Africa , where accolades are presented to members of South Africa's music industry. Winners receive a statuette is called a SAMA. The event was established in 1995...
. Some viewed this as a prostitution of African culture for commercial purposes but the group saw it in a different way:
It's a little bit of a misunderstanding. We're not dissing anything, this is our own version; one for the young people," said band leader Junior this week. "Our parents know the lyrics to that song, but a lot of kids don't, even though they stand at school and hear it sung every morning. Young people's reaction to our version of the song has been incredible, they love it. And this way they'll learn the lyrics too.
In addition, Lebo Mathosa’s dance routine and revealing short skirts caused often controversy and offended many who were shocked that a teenager could be so daring.
Despite their success, the group broke up after one of their lead singers, Lebo Mathosa
Lebo Mathosa
Lebo Mathosa was a popular South African kwaito singer.Mathosa started her career with the popular South African band Boom Shaka in 1994 at the age of 15, after she caught the eye of music producer Don Laka at a club in Johannesburg. She was one of the few successful female kwaito artists in an...
decided to start her own solo career in 2000. She achieved great success until she was killed in a car accident in 2006 at the age of 29.