The southern region of Africa continues to assume itself as the great epicenter of new mutations in electronica. As essential and enlightening as compilations like Gqom Oh! or Ayobaness have been for this side of the planet, fortunately the plan of discovery seems endless. At the same time, this is genuinely music of resistance and celebration. While such expressions greatly annoy local political powers, the tremor of artists like Phelimuncasi makes room for a vital notion of creative and identity freedom unprecedented in more recent times.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is again by the greater hand of Nyege Nyege that Ama Gogela, the band’s latest album, reaches an audience beyond its borders. A powerful sonic document, conscious of its search for community and therefore also full of participations like Bhejane or the Asian NET GALA, among many others. Physical geography becomes only a referential point because this is, after all, a global call out.
Renowned for their mind-blowing performances, the kind that blow any sense of convention out of the water, there are rare opportunities to catch these fabulous people here. We feel like saying that this is the new punk; now without guitars or leather in the equation. NA
