Punk Rock In Africa
African punk stuff, including a documentary, a playlist, a reissue of an old album, and more.
We have yet to feature any punk from Africa. So here we go. These are a few links I've run across. It's more of a look back, but if you know of more current information about the state of punk in Africa, feel free to leave a comment.
Punk in Africa is a 2012 documentary.
"Three chords, three countries, one revolution... Punk in Africa is the story of the multi-racial punk movement within the recent political and social upheavals experienced in three Southern African countries: South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe."
From 2014, a playlist from Afropop Worldwide.
"When you think punk, a few locations tend to come to mind—New York, London, LA. But Durban? Jo’Burg? South Africa? In this program, we are taking a trip to a time and a place where punk had a very different meaning, exploring the music and the legacy of the mixed race bands that challenged apartheid. Little known to the outside world, and often overlooked even within South Africa, groups like National Wake, The Genuines, and The Kalahari Surfers used music to articulate their disgust with the society around them, calling out the conformity, repression, and political hypocrisy that defined the apartheid era. As time went on and theory was put into practice, the music became increasingly adventurous, drawing from the full diversity of South Africa’s musical culture, and fusing it to the raw energy of punk. In doing so, they created a model that continues to inspire bands to the present day."
Afrika Corps: 10 Punk Bands From Republic Of South Africa
"A compilation of South African punk bands originally released on cassette by french label Western Front Tapes in 1983. Compiled by Rubin ‘Wildman’ Rose, it features, in addition to the established bands of that period - Wild Youth (South Africa's first punk rock band, formed in 1978 and Rubin Rose's group), Leopard, Gay Marines (both among the very first bands of the scene) and Powerage (from Durban, on the scene since 1981) - lesser-known names with almost non-existent discographies but certainly worthy of being brought to light today. Those selection gave a broader and clearer picture of what it meant to be a Punk band in the apartheid years."
From 2022, "A people’s history of Zimbabwe’s first mbira punk band, Chikwata 263, who wanted a soundtrack for the country’s post-post colonial blues."
From 2019, Okay Africa presents "20 black punk bands from North America, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mozambique, Brazil."
I don't know Paul Ngozi, but "Black Sabbath heavy" is a selling point. :)
Antagonizing a government that has already come down on you hard is probably a pretty punk thing to do.
A part of me feels that Paul Ngozi falls under the punk spectrum, especially some of his solo albums ('Viva Ngozi' comes to mind). The riffs are Black Sabbath heavy, but his music has a ferociousness that feels very punk rock.
That said, whilst Fela's music obviously isn't the sound of punk, his vitriolic middle finger salute to the Nigerian government and how dangerous his music was perceived is totally punk.