Back to Soweto

Lucas Nwananga can’t go back to Soweto — he’s from Yorkshire. He grew up collecting rare recordings of South African township jive and mbaqanga, then he taught himself to play all the instruments on those records by ear. “His Band” is just Lucas playing guitars, bass, brushed snare drum and melodica, recreating the sonics of 1960s South Africa in his home during the lockdown.

Back to Soweto is one of the most joyful albums I’ve heard in 2020. Tune in to Global A Go-Go this week and hear a selection from it for yourself, alongside some of the vintage jive that inspired it.

Also this week (Monday November 16, 3:00 to 5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Brooklyn Raga Massive’s Terry Riley-inspired In D, North African rock ‘n’ roll, lovers rock – the romantic side of reggae, some tuneful Latin soul and salsa dura para los bailadores y los oyentes.

Podcast: radio4all.net/index.php/program/107099

All the podcasts: radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go

Show Archive

Play show / Add show to playlist

Playlist:

Oliver Lake, “Separation”

from Matador Of 1st & 1st

Passin Thru - 1996

USA

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, “Global a Go-Go”

from Global a Go-Go

BMG Rights Management (US) LLC - 2001

England UK

Brooklyn Raga Massive, “Raga Bihag”

from In D

self-released - 2020

USA

Vusi Mahlasela, “Ithemba Lami”

from Shebeen Queen

ATO Records - 2020

South Africa

Thomas Phale & Others (South Africa), “Amanzi Ayeza”

from Sporo No. 4

Star Black - 1979

South Africa

Kabasa, “Burning Splinters”

from Kabasa

Atlantic - 1980

South Africa

Lucas Nwananga & His Band, “Isobho Lethu”

from Back To Soweto

Umsakazo - 2020

England UK

Rachid Taha, “Joséphine”

from Diwan 2

Wrasse Records - 2006

Algeria-France

Les boukakes, “L'alawi”

from Bledi

Mimouna prods - 2004

France-Tunisia

Bab L'Bluz, “Gnawa Beat”

from Nayda!

Real World Records - 2020

Morocco-France

Mano Negra, “Sidi h'bibi”

from Puta's Fever

Because Music - 1989

France-Spain

Alton Ellis, “I'm Still in Love With You”

from Sings Rock and Soul

Studio One - 1967

Jamaica-England UK

Norma Fraser, “The First Cut Is The Deepest”

from Studio One Soul

Soul Jazz Records - 1967

Jamaica

Tinga Stewart, “A Brand New Me”

from Boat to Progress! The Original Pantomine Vocal Collection 1970-74

VP Records - 1972

Jamaica

Gyptian, “Warm & Easy”

from Warm & Easy - Single

VP Records - 2020

Jamaica

Christopher Martin, “If I Were a Carpenter”

from Strictly the Best, Vol. 46

VP Records - 2012

Jamaica

Orkesta Mendoza, “Tusk”

from La Caminadora

Orkesta Mendoza Musica/Cosmica Label Services - 2018

USA-Mexico

Los Mocosos, “Brothers & Sisters”

from All Grown Up

Hip Spanic Records - 2020

USA

Quantic & Alice Russell, “Su Suzy (feat. The Combo Bárbaro)”

from Look Around the Corner (feat. The Combo Bárbaro)

Tru Thoughts - 2012

England UK-Colombia-USA