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Brenda Fassie’s Weekend Special eventually sold more than 200 000 copies, announcing the arrival of the so-called township pop, soon to be illegitimately christened “bubblegum”. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times /Joe Sefale)
BLONDIE AND PAPPA

State of emergency: The rise and the alchemy of the people’s hit

South African artists found a musical identity and a way to code political messages in the anxious 80s

  • Rangoato Hlasane
5 min read