Azania Band is South Africa’s premier foundation reggae Band and one of the longest running bands in the Southern Africa Region. They play Roots Reggae, infused with Afro, jazz and soul. Music is the language they speak to reach people of all age groups and races who have an ear for good music and can relate to their music. Their music is unique as they add a South African element in the Reggae that the play which makes them the most respected band in SA. They have recently returned from Ivory Coast where they played at Abi Reggae Festival, Africa’s leading Reggae Festival along side Africa’s finest. MissLee of MzansiReggae had an indepth interview with Ras Vuyo, the Band’s represantative shortly after their return. The interview follows below.
Who are the members of Azania Band?
Azania Band members are, Mkhuseli Xhalisa aka Ras Judah who is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Raymond Bushula aka Ricky who is the keyboard player & Wakhile Xhalisa who is the bass player and band leader.
How long has the band been together?
Azania band has been together for 20 years, the band was formed by Wakhile when he returned from Germany where he was working as a professional musician, there he was a member of the Makweru band. In 1986 Ras Judah was a member of the a band called the Sufferers and later the Spear Band, while at the same time his younger brother Wakhile was the bass player for a band called the Regulars.
Take us back to the days when the band was formed, how big was reggae then?
Way back in late 1996 there were a number of Reggae bands in Cape Town and they played organic roots Reggae. Back then the live Reggae scene was very active, we used have Reggae bands basking at shopping centres, taxi ranks, preforming in the dance hall and other venues. During the same period Azania performed at some of South Africa’s music festivals that were not exclusively Reggae like the Splashyfen in the Drakensburg, Awesome Africa, Up the Creek, etc
Who were the prominent players/figures in the scene then? Are they still in Cape Town, still active?
There was a number of Reggae bands then, like the Sons of Selassie, The Bloodlines, Roots Rockers, Africa Iration, Wiseman Doctrine, some of these bands are still active within the live Reggae scene,
How much contribution did they make in the reggae industry?
Those days there was no Reggae industry that was separate on its own, nationally there were some Reggae artists who were part of the South African music industry, for example Jumbo, Senzo, Lucky Dube, Colbert Mukhwevho, etc; these artists were signed by Major record labels so they got some airplay on both TV & Radio. The people Loved Reggae and could relate to it because of the anti-apartheid message.
In Cape Town very few artists or bands recorded their music, live music was the vibe as result some bands were invited to perform in political rallies because of the message. Reggae bands used to perform on events at the University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape, there were also Rasta organised festivals like the Paarl Easter, Monwabisi & the Ocean View festivals. This presence of Reggae must have inspired today’s generation of Reggae artists.
How is it that you got to play with a lot of key figures in the international reggae scene, Jimmy Riley, Anthony B etc
The international collaborations started way back in the late 80’s when the Regulars worked as a backing band for Benjamin Zephaniah, a Dub Poet from the UK, while the Sufferers was one of the supporting acts. In the late 90’s Azania Band teamed up with Dawit Menelik Tafari who produced the band’s debut album called the True Story. In 1999 Azania was a supporting act for Mutabaruka, on this show Azania was the backing band for Dawit and Kashta of the Ras Ites from the UK.
In the late 80’s Wakhile left South Africa for Europe where he worked with a South African band called Makweru which was based based in Germany. While based in Europe Wakhile worked as a bass player for many international Reggae artist like Oku Onuora, Big Youth, Joseph Cotton, Tippa Irie and Charlie Chaplin to mention a few.
When he returned to South Africa in the late 90’s he teamed up with his brother Ras Judah to form Azania Band, with his international experience and contacts made while in Europe, the band’s performance was on an international standard, so Azania became a choice band for international artists coming to South Africa.
Azania’s consistency in terms of the music quality made it easy for the band to collaborate with artist like Jimmy Riley, Anthony B, Freddy McGregor, Toots Hibbert of the Mytals and more. Some of these artists said they love Azania’s music because it’s fresh and it’s also different.
You have been touring a lot lately as compared to other years, what has changed?
Nothing much has changed besides the fact that the band is consistent in delivering quality. Also with the online presence, people are starting to notice the band and approach us to see how we can work together. Wakhile’s link with Iqulah Rastafari in Germany also saw the band touring with Iqulah to the Reunion Island as his backing band also as backing band for another foundation artist Cedrick Mayton of the Congos.
Tell us about your recent trip to Ivory Coast, again sharing the stage with big international names, how did your performance go? Was the audience receptive?
The trip to Ivory Coast was a very humbling and an inspirational experience for Azania Band, the people of Ivory Coast responded very well to the band’s performance, the audience was dancing and they were enjoying themselves.
Sharing the stage with International artists is always a humbling experience, but the bands from Africa gave the most electrifying experience, they all gave a real good vibe and energy, very good musicians also.
How did it feel to be representing the southern tip of Africa in such a big African festival
It was such a great honour and also very humbling, the festival was also honouring Lucky Dube so we also performed a few of his songs as the tribute to him, in West Africa Lucky Dube is the most popular person from South Africa after President Nelson Mandela, Africa Love him, the audience sang along when Azania played his music.
You had just returned from the ReUnion Islands prior to your Ivory Coast Trip, how was Reunion? How are the vybz there?
The Reunion Island vibe is always great, it’s like home to us, the people love Azania Band over there. The Island people are Great the vibe is always positive.
Azania Band to Perform at Abi Reggae Festival – Ivory Coast
Which other countries in Africa have you performed in?
We have performed in Uganda as a backing band for Judy Boucher and also in Zimbabwe as a backing band for some Jamaican artists.
When last did you perform in Johannesburg or Durban?
We did the Bob Marley tribute in Durban last year, but we have not performed in Johannesburg in a long time.
Your last release was Ghetto Sounds Vol III: Where is it available Digital or physical copies?
Ghetto Sound Vol III is available on Itunes, Amazon and most online music stores, the physical copies are available through the independent music shops, Seal of Ujama, Music Moods at OR Tambo airport, Belstar in Bellville, the African Music Shop in Cape Town and the other Rasta Shops. The album has 18 songs, it’s a good album still.
When is your next release?
Late 2016, Azania Band will release an album called Burn Down Babylon, all the recording is now completed, we are now busy mixing the album, it’s a very beautiful album musically.
Any upcoming local youths that you are working with/mentoring?
Lumanyano Mzi aka Inity, our drummer is about 21 years old and we have been working with him since he was in high school, he’s now at UCT music school. We do work with some young musician and try to guide and inspire them, these Youths play all kinds of music from African, Jazz and classical music we expose them to the studio environment and get them to communicate with some experienced professional musicians.
You will be opening for Chronixx, How do you feel about it?
Yes we are looking forward to it, we got approached by Lioness Productions and were asked to be one of the supporting acts. Chronixx is a conscious Rasta Yut, so we love to support anything heartical and conscious.
You also won the Award for Best Band last year at the DRM awards, how does that make you feel? Do you rate these awards? Do you feel they are of any worth?
Winning the DRM award is also very humbling, we are grateful that the Reggae community acknowledge the Azania Band’s role and contribution when it comes to South African Reggae. Yes we do rate the awards, these people invested their time and resources to recognise local Reggae, that’s a noble thing to do on the side of the organisers. As a people we have to stop trying to be part of other people’s things, to have your own independent thing that recognise some role players within your own community is the way forward and a great step towards self-reliance and self-sufficiency.
Dancehall Reggae Mzansi Award Winners 2015
Look at what happened with the Oscars the other day, only the people of African descent we complaining of being excluded. The Asians did not complain because they have their own thing going in India & China. We always want to be part of other people’s thing instead of having our own thing.
How is the Reggae Dancehall scene right now in Cape Town?
The Reggae Dancehall scene in Cape Town has changed, in terms of the Sound System you hardly hear any Reggae music, the selectors play mostly Dancehall music, it’s even difficult to hear local artists being played in the Dance. In terms of artists, Cape Town has a lot of Reggae artists which is a good thing because there is always a Reggae event happening, and the artists organise these events themselves. In all, there is hope for Reggae music in South Africa!
If you were not into music, what would the individual members be doing?
According to Wakhile and Ricky music is their life and is all they want to do. Ricky is running the Afro-melody studio, producing and recording all types of music, from traditional music to gospel.
Wakhile is doing Sound/PA hire, there are always people who want to hire sound equipment so we fill that need.
Ras Judah has a 9 to 5, but during weekends he’s running the Ghetto Sound, Sound system where he plays at the Marcus Garvey community Hall and in the parks discovering and developing new talent.
Where would you most like to perform?
We would like to do the big international Reggae festivals like the Summer Jam in Europe, Reggae on the River in the US, it would be great to do the Reggae Sumfest and Rebel Salute in JA as well. Most of all we would love to do an all Africa tour and share our message and music with Africa, African people love Reggae music.
Who is the Reggae Dancehall artist that you feel is promising right now?
Ras Itrim from Mozambique has great stage presence and good lyrical content, Daddy Spencer, Crosby, JJ, Fire Flames, there is a lot of good artists in Cape Town, P Postman in Limpompo, Jahnett Tafari and many more throughout the country..
Which musicians do you draw your inspiration from?
Bheki Smeleku, Alan Kwela, Victor Ndlazulwana, Steel Pulse, Black Slate, Richard Bona, Earnest Ranglin, Monty Alexander, Sibongile Khumalo, Mahlathini, the list is endless because we get inspired by music from all over the world. It would be great to work with Earnest Ranglin and Monty Alexander.
What has been your most memorable experience in your musical journey
The show we did with the legendary Bunny Wailer in Reunion Island, working with Iqulah Rastafari is always something very special to InI.
How can promoters get in touch with you?
The promoters can contact Wakhile at 072 499 5041 or send us an e-mail at info@ghettosound.co.za and the people can listen to Azania music on www.ghettosound.co.za , from there people can also download our music.
Last words…
InI would like to share with the Reggae artists is that, they must keep the lyrics clean and conscious because as artists we have a responsibility not just to entertain but to educate and inspire good behaviour and positive attitude.
Also we would like to salute and thank the Mzansi Reggae Team for creating such a great platform, it’s making a huge impact in terms of promoting local Reggae music.
Big Up to all the Radio DJ’s, the Sound System man them, the Promoters and the Idrens who keep playing Local Reggae music on their TV shows. Also Big Up to Jah Sam and the Rebel Muzik team from Reunion Island, keep up the good works. Much Love & Respect to all the people who are supporting Azania band and the lovers of Reggae Music world wide, from the Azania family!