Sibusiso Nxumalo
THE much-anticipated performance of London-based dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson with The African Axemen in Johannesburg has been called off. While a poetry reading session and workshop are scheduled to go ahead as part of the Arts Alive festival, the Jamaican-born Johnson has cancelled the one-off concert on the grounds that he only performs music with his own band.
Instead — according to Louis Mhlanga, one of the five Southern African guitarists who comprise The African Axemen — the poet will recite a “couple of poems” before the group takes to the stage.
Arts Alive music co-ordinator Angela Impey said the confusion arose because Johnson had not read his contract properly. “He signed the contract we had sent him but did not realise we were also requesting a musical performance with the Axemen. When he realised, he made it clear he would not be able to do the performance — and we have to respect his wishes.”
Mhlanga said Johnson had offered to “jam” with the group after their session. “But our show is not that loose; it is a tight concept. So we said we could not jam with him. We would have preferred him to perform within the show,” said Mhlanga.
Impey expressed concern that ticketholders for the sold-out show were under the impression Johnson would be taking the stage with the Axemen. “Maybe he will join them when they play their encore,” she said.
But disregard the fact that Johnson will not be turning up in scatting, dub mode, dropping anti-suss (system) lyrics like “Inglan is a bitch” to dope-heavy bass rhythms — the ticket in your hand is still worth gold. The African Axemen will be chopping down colonial borders with guitar riffs that had audiences reeling at the show’s premiere at the Grahamstown festival this year.
The African Axemen perform at Mega Music Warehouse on September 21 at 8pm. Johnson will read and discuss his poetry at the Tesson Theatre at the Civic on September 22 at 3pm and September 23 at 7pm