Dance music stars Boom Shaka look set to sever ties with the label that created them. Maria McCloy asks them why
Boom Shaka are arguably South Africa’s most popular dance music outfit. They emerged as stars in the stable of Kalawa records, home to the likes of Brothers of Peace, Trompies and Bongo Maffin. But then, two weeks ago, a music consultancy, JD Management (JDM), revealed that Boom Shaka had given JDM power of attorney to audit their financial dealings with Kalawa.
In a sensational statement last Friday, JDM announced that “multi-platinum artists Boom Shaka have decided to terminate their relationship with Kalawa Records. In respect of recording, the group has requested immediate clearance from Kalawa … An audit currently being conducted has discovered that all of the songs on either of the last two Boom Shaka albums [It’s about time and It’s Our Game] have incorrectly recorded details of song ownership. The audit continues.”
But when approached for confirmation of a split this week, singer Theo Nhlengethwa replied: “I didn’t say that, and I’m part of the group … I don’t know anything about that … I think you should call Junior [Sokhela].”
Sokhela, in turn, sounded a warning: “If [Kalawa] give us a hard time, we’ll leave … We’ve come up a long way with Kalawa and we just want to get things straight.” What Boom Shaka want to get straight, says Sokhela, are two issues that have historically plagued the local recording industry: royalties and the ownership of recorded material.
When asked about leaving Kalawa, band member Thembi Seete exclaimed “Who said that? We have problems, fine, but we have not said what we’re going to do … I think you should speak to us all as a group.” No further comment.
When asked about concert bookings, a Kalawa employee said this week: “We’ve suspended everything to do with Boom Shaka until further outcome of what’s happening.” Over the weekend Boom Shaka were billed to perform in Kuruman alongside Skeem and Alaska. They never performed because someone had forgotten the band’s pre- recorded instrumental tracks. This music was composed by Kalawa boss and artist Don Laka and produced by Kalawa’s Dangerous Combination Crew. But Sokhela implied that the missing tracks were no mistake. “If you voice yourself, they chase you out,” he said.
According to JDM, Boom Shaka have not been given due credit – and royalty payments – for their lyrics to these tracks. Sokhela says “We thought we were working with guys we trusted. We should’ve been more business minded … I’ve never registered as Junior the songwriter, no one told us to register with Samro …”
Laka, however, says that the band were clearly credited for lyrics on both albums. Disputing Sokhela’s claim that Boom Shaka were responsible for all lyrics, he said the lyrics were written mainly by Oscar Mdlongwa, Christos Katsaitis and himself. Some of these lyrics date back to when Boom Shaka were still an unnamed project doing session work for Kalawa. Still, Laka did not deny that lead vocalist, Lebo Mathosa, and Sokhela did contribute.
JDM claim that records with Tusk music, distributors of the first album, list only Katsaitis, Laka and Mdlongwa as composers.
Laka says that issues of ownership and any “mistakes” in the handling of the band need to be sorted out in a meeting between all parties. He adds: “If all of them want out, they can. We can’t hold on to people if they’re not happy … but if Kalawa says we don’t want you to go it’s our right too.” Boom Shaka have signed with Kalawa until 1999. He warned that the dispute could stall a successful release of the band’s third album. JDM say material for that album is almost complete; that “discussions are underway with several record companies. If there is any reluctance to settle, we’ll use every single means in our power to get out of the relationship.”
Another industry insider this week speculated that Boom Shaka may well be using the dispute to find a more lucrative contract.