Thebe Mabanga
music
Writing in the Financial Times recently British economist John Kay noted that ”if there is a problem in the music business, it is not the shortage of material; it is that there is already too much encouragement to produce large derivative material of low quality”.
Kay might have been commenting on intellectual property rights, but his argument applies with equally compelling force to the aesthetic output of the music industry including our own. What a pity then that in a bid to reward excellence, the South African Music Awards (Sama) frequently makes embarrassing mistakes and in seven years of trying it constantly comes under fire from various quarters.
And yet, with a few of its drum majorettes out of tune, the Sama parade once again makes its colourful, yet flawed, procession to the citadel of opulence in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs the Sandton Convention Centre. The Convention Centre takes over from Sun City and becomes the fifth venue to host the awards. On the big night do not be surprised if the Soul Brothers maintain their stranglehold on the best mbaqanga album category. They have won this category for six consecutive years and have been nominated this year for their project Intombi Yami. Last summer, for the first time since the kwaito explosion a decade ago, no single kwaito artist could claim to have single-handedly raised the temperature on the dance floors.
This is partly because a number of artists left the comfort of established groups and launched solo careers. These include Lebo Mathosa of Boom Shaka, who delivered the sensually charged Dreams.
She has been rewarded with three nominations, including best female artist where she finds herself up against jazz exponent Linda Kekana for her effort Rebirth, R&B newcomer Tsakane ”TK” Mhinga with TKO, and veterans Miriam Makeba and Sibongile Khumalo.
The best male artist category also pits the youth brigade against men whose music they must have grown up listening to.
Another kwaito artist gone solo, Kabelo Mabalane of TKZee and its spin- off family, battles for top honours against my category favourites Paul Hanmer and Vusi Mahlasela. The line-up is completed by McCoy Mrubata and Faca Khulu, the Lion King vocalist. Louis Mhlanga makes history with his nomination for best duo or group. He earns this nomination for his collaboration with Eric van der Westen on Song for Nomsa. Last year he was nominated with Vusi Mahlasela in the category which had a record 10 entries and was subsequently won by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. This time around Mhlanga’s chances are significantly improved, on paper at least, with the category contested by the normal five artists. He hopes to wrestle the statuette from Jabu Khanyile and Bayete, kwaito’s overgrown kids Brothers of Peace, Eminent Child, George Phiri or Kampi Moto.
One of this year’s most questionable decisions is the omission of Mzambiya from the best newcomer category. His debut album, From Zola to Hollywood, was a runaway success. His lyrics, although not deep, are catchy and rich with variety. Without Mzambiya, it is left to guitar prodigy Selaelo Selota to follow in the footsteps of Gloria Bosman, last year’s best newcomer. Selota competes with the Jabu Khanyile inspired adult contemporary outfit Bambata. The other two nominees are I say this with reluctance R&B stars Loyiso and TK.
My reluctance stems from a simple reason. In its present form South African R&B is derivative and pandering. Artists like TK and especially former Bongo Maffin crooner, Speedy, regularly tell us how being compared to stars from the United States, like Destiny’s Child and Sisqo, is a compliment. The truth is they preempt the comparison. Aspiring to be like these stars is noble, but to clutch the hem of their robes with fervour and without shame, is pitiful. Even the market agrees, with R&B sales rarely exceeding, to be generous, 5 000 copies.
On the big night of the Samas Ishmael should scoop the best R&B album award. He has an edge because he is versatile. The quality of South African music videos continues to impress and over the past year the slums of Hillbrow in Johannesburg served as an inspiration for a number of artists.
Hip-hop artist Mizchif set a song there. Gloria Bosman went inside the Ponte Tower for her video of Amaqwati. Not to be outdone, Arthur Mafokate took his All Stars to his former base to film Kwasa Kwasa. The video has earned a well-deserved nomination. This nomination revives an interesting duel in the Samas between Kwasa Kwasa’s director Lee Ann Cox who has two nominations including this one and Leigh Ogilvie, who also has two nominations.
Ogilvie won the sparring contest last year and boasts the standard- bearer in this category, namely Jeff Maluleke’s Byala Baxintu. This year it should be either Cox or the last nominee Tyrone van Vuuren and Garreth Fradgely for TKZee’s Izinja Zami. The last of the interesting duels takes place in the best kwaito album category. TKZee members Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo take each other head-on in a category that includes a questionable nomination for M’du.
Finally to mention at least one white outfit will Just Jinger break their duck this year and win their first Sama? The Sama ceremony takes place on April 5 at the Sandton Convention Centre. Tickets at Computicket. It will be televised by SABC1 on April 7 at 9pm