MUSIC WEEK AUGUST 11 1984

AfRICAM MUSIC HUGH MASEKELA B S is pictured outside Battery Studios Mobile on location in Botswana with US producer Stewart Levine. '.L—>.!*!•« "Shipping the mobile to Africa is one element in our long-range financial and creative investment in Africa," says Zomba director Ralph Simon.

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Zomba label acts as a catalyst for African musicians and performers

CBS N 015 4SS A Dancing Safari-African Way live talking

FEW OBSERVERS would dispute that a Levine, together with young British engineers major international trend towards and a Fairlight computer specialist to record African Music is becoming a reality, but the album. Jive Afrika — the Zomba group of The first single from the album. Don't Go companies' specialist label — believes that it Lose It Baby, is presently number 2 in the US is unique in putting its money where its mouth Billboard Dance Chart, and is climbing the is. Dutch, Belgian and other European charts. "Many record companies have spoken Masekela and his band are presently on a about Africa being a new source of highly-acclaimed tour of Europe which is repertoire," says Zomba director Ralph being extended to include the US and Canada. Simon. "But apart from a brief flirtation with 'This is the first album to be promoted African music in the late Sixties, when Osibisa internationally on our fledgling label," says first appeared, there has been no example of Simon. "We feel that provided our concept of any true organised creative vision in this area. creative and technical excellence is sustained, CBS N 013 | "When Chris Blackwell first started to which it will be, the so-called African 'trend' is crusade for the acceptance of reggae music on certainly going to grow into a major repertoire an international scale almost 20 years ago, source over the next decade." "Super Mac" Rhythm Man few would have believed that it would have been possible to create a platform for significant global record sales as has been the case. Zomba has always harboured the belief that a similar potential exists in the long-term The next few weeks will see release of with African music." albums by leading Nigerian artist Sonny To provoke such an ambitious international Okusun; jazz-funk group Sakhile; trend, requires not only a keen heart and Caiphus Semenya, who has worked long-range planning, but also substantial with Quincy Jones among others, and The financial commitment. Soul Brothers, who have sold 275,000 copies Having grown up against the backdrop of of their latest album in South Africa — 14 the African record business, Simon and his times gold for an album that was fully fellow Zomba director Clive Calder have recorded and mixed in just two weeks. always felt that if African music could be made Simon adds: "Zomba has gone further in to be accessible to Western tastes by using the consolidating our long-term belief in the highest standards of creative and technical African axis through our association with excellence, meaningful record sales would leading South African independent company, m result Priority Records. Run by managing director CBS N 014 1 i Thus, Jive Afrika was formed nine months Ian Fuhr, it is successfully challenging the ago. The first step was to provide the facilities established might of the major labels, and in Sammy Kasule-Congo Beat best seller to initiate the idea. Zomba's Battery Studios its nine months of existence, has already purchased the mobile recording studio secured representation of the Island, Jive, Stiff belonging to Los Angeles' Record Plant and and Arista labels, in addition to signing some arranged for it to be shipped from California to of the biggest selling indigenous African acts." Africa, where it is now on location in the Zomba's activities in the African music field republic of Botswana. are attracting interest from all quarters. "Apart The studio has become a magnet for from the worldwide interest we're now seeing leading African musicians and performers in our African repertoire, we are also receiving Hugh Masekela, arguably the most significant requests from established UK and US record recording artist Africa has produced and now producers wanting to sample the sounds and a resident of Botswana, became the first artist atmosphere of our studio in Botswana," says signed to Jive Afrika. Calder. In assembling Techno-Bush, Masekela's At^ the same time, the studio and Jive first album for the label. Jive used an Afrika's presence have ignited the local acts innovative approach defying the usual con- into action. There is such an abundance of ventions of the record business in Africa: they talent which — marshalled effectively — could secured the services of American producer well provide the Bob Marleys of tomorrow," and long-time associate of Masekela, Stewart he says. Anna Mwale-due out soon her new album -it's pure African sunshine! The abundance of talent. . . could well CBS RECORDS (KENYA) LTD., RO.B. 60299, Nairobi, Kenya. provide the Bob Marleys of tomorrow' CBS NIGERIA LTD., RO.B. 21426,10 Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. CBS INTERNATIONAL, 17/19 Soho Square, London W1V 6HE. Tel: 01-734 8181 x 306

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