An ex-punk composer has teamed up with a Soweto choir for a collaboration that’s proving fruitful on the independent gospel scene, writes Andrew Kaye
It is perhaps with a slight sense of ironic cruelty, that, within a few short minutes, the gods of music deigned to impart the gift of genius (in the form of a gospel song) on a composer who has laboured for over 10 years on a still-incomplete album of his own generic pop songs.
Leon Erasmus is an ex-punk rocker with Roodepoort band Kamikazee who has the dubious claim to fame of being the only person in Botswana in the Eighties to have worn leopard skin-tight trousers with purple hair. He was on his way to his studio at Mega Music (RIP), when, stopping at a traffic light, he spotted a man carrying a piece of cardboard with the words “Jobless, please help, God bless” scrawled upon it.
He was immediately struck with the inspiration to write a song, God Bless the Jobless, which later came to serve as the first line. He quickly wrote a few other lines in his head and presented his idea to Bishop Frieda Ramarumo, the leader of Majalefa A Morena, the gospel choir hiring his studio at the time to record their ninth gospel album. The choir, from Naledi in Soweto, liked it a lot, but suggested certain changes. “Which was cool with me,” says the affable Erasmus.
The members of the choir then took the song home with them where they arranged the four- part harmonies and brought it back the following week, ready for recording. The results are simply stunning. Apart from the slight sense of irony implied by the play on words, the song is up-tempo, jazzy and infused with a joyful energy that is truly infectious.
Majalefa A Morena was formed in 1979 by the late Bishop Phineas Ramarumo. His wife, Lady Bishop Frieda Ramarumo, took over as leader of the choir after his death in 1985, and is assissted by Reverend Abel Moloi. Most of the members are scholars, and belong to the Church of Christ in Naledi. Sometimes more than 50 strong, the choir has performed throughout Southern Africa, and shared the stage with the likes of Mzwakhe Mbuli, Jerusalema Encha, and Amadodna Ase Wesile.
The choir’s songs are usually composed by Ramarumo – a “reflection of my faith and love for my creator”, she says. She delivers “a positive message and promises hope, even during the bad times”.
The song has the same sort of appeal that Don’t Worry, Be Happy had for impoverished South Africans in the Eighties, where it became a second anthem for some sections of the population, especially in Cape Town. I remember lying on Clifton beach one scorchingly hot December day listening to the welcome cry of “Granadilla ice lollies” interspersed with impromptu versions of Don’t Worry, Be Happy.
I foresee God Bless the Jobless being used in a number of different contexts … the corporate beast will no doubt find a use for it somewhere down the line. “In fact, I’m submitting it to the Department of Labour,” says Erasmus.
The choir is licensed to Erasmus, who has formed an independent label primarily for the distribution of some of the material he records for the endless stream of choirs that filter through his studio. Usually the product is sold on cassette, but in Majalefa A Morena’s case, the album will be available on CD as well.
But how many units does a choir have to sell before they break even? “Two hundred and fifty cassettes at R25 each,” says Erasmus. “Majalefa A Morena will easily sell in excess of 1 000 CDs. The response has been tremendous, with other choirs asking for copies of the song and lots of radio play. When we took it to a wholesaler with big outlets they said people who’d heard it were asking after it.”
This is the kind of thing from which legends are made. Because of the song’s universal appeal, Majalefa A Morena would be ideal candidates for international performances. If this were to happen (now that Mega Music has been closed down) I know of at least one jobless person who would be extremely happy. Viva Majalefa A Morena, Viva Leon Erasmus, viva the jobless.