Cape Town
As I think I've said a few times in earlier posts, I'm a huge fan of African Dope records. I heard about them on my last trip to South Africa and Mozambique in 2004. My glass blowing friend in Durban, Cornell, turned me on to the compilation "Cape of Good Dope." Later, in Berlin at Multikulti FM, I found their "The Sound of Dub" and "Silverlab Harambe Sessions." One of the tracks that really jumped out at me was "FCK" by Teba. I promptly ripped it and stuck it in my Ableton Live session and (due to the limited text/naming) it just became FCK, I played it out all the time and forgot that it was Teba. Fast forward......
The possibility came up to set up a stopover in South Africa (I have a hard time stopping in random strange places on the way to my real destination without getting out and at least having a look around) and i decided to write to them and see if they could help set up a gig in Cape Town (or anywhere in SA). I got lucky and they decided to hook me up. Always on the look out for musicians, i asked about the possibility of hooking up with some people there and they were down for facilitating connections. When they mentioned Teba, it rang a bell and I digitally backtracked and realized that it was the FCK guy. Cool, me thinks.
Listen to "FCK" - Teba, The Original Social Worker, aka the Shepherd.
The gears were in motion. I was to be picked up by Fletcher, aka DJ Dope aka founder of African Dope Records. We had a lot to talk about and a lot to do. Duncan who was responsible for promoting the night had gotten us hooked up with tickets to go to Robben Island where Mandela had been in prison for many years. Of course, as most Cape Townians, Fletcher had never been there and jumped at the chance. That gave us plenty of time to talk about Cape Town, South Africa, Apartheid, the Mandelas, all the former prisoners who are now cabinet members, education, food, music, rappers, you name it. Then it was back to town to get ready for our gig at the Fiction Bar on Long Street. The night was a great success. Everybody was happy, satisfied and tired. We trudged off with our gear for home. Along the way, Fletcher got a call from the security company that his house alarm had gone off. I suggested that maybe his cats had set it off, but, very calmly, he said he was sure that he'd been broken into. Back at the crib, there was a security guy standing in front of the house. The bottom half of the door had been kicked in. The thieves had run in, grabbed the turntables from the front room, knocked over the amp, magazines and records and taken off. Probably in about 30 seconds or so we figured. It was a long night. We had to wait for the police to properly report it so that he could claim it on insurance. It was light out by the time we got to bed.
The next day we went out to Gugulethu to check out the sunday afternoon sound system. Normally, they set up in the basketball court, but it had been taken over by an ANC rally and so the sound system was moved to a nearby basketball court. This was a totally DIY mission to make the music happen. The equipment was an amalgamation of stuff brought by whoever had it. It sounded pretty nasty, but the good vibes more than made up for that. We arrived just as the sun was setting and managed to catch quite a few MCs in the short time we were there. The amount of talented hip hop and ragga MCs in Cape Town is astounding (especially after being in Zenj and Bongo!). When it got dark, it got cold. The MCs gave way to just the DJs and people danced all over the basketball court trying to stay warm. Fletcher introduced me to people left and right - Teba was there, Crosby, a producer/MC that I'd meet the first night, Vuyo, a super nice guy who is a producer of roots reggae, Spencer, who was the man responsible for putting the whole thing on.......then it was time to go to the studio and listen and talk and show and tell. Perhaps some things from the studio tomorrow.......
Fletcher, aka DJ Dope with Teba
Sound system Gugulethu style
African Dope Studio headquarters
The possibility came up to set up a stopover in South Africa (I have a hard time stopping in random strange places on the way to my real destination without getting out and at least having a look around) and i decided to write to them and see if they could help set up a gig in Cape Town (or anywhere in SA). I got lucky and they decided to hook me up. Always on the look out for musicians, i asked about the possibility of hooking up with some people there and they were down for facilitating connections. When they mentioned Teba, it rang a bell and I digitally backtracked and realized that it was the FCK guy. Cool, me thinks.
Listen to "FCK" - Teba, The Original Social Worker, aka the Shepherd.
The gears were in motion. I was to be picked up by Fletcher, aka DJ Dope aka founder of African Dope Records. We had a lot to talk about and a lot to do. Duncan who was responsible for promoting the night had gotten us hooked up with tickets to go to Robben Island where Mandela had been in prison for many years. Of course, as most Cape Townians, Fletcher had never been there and jumped at the chance. That gave us plenty of time to talk about Cape Town, South Africa, Apartheid, the Mandelas, all the former prisoners who are now cabinet members, education, food, music, rappers, you name it. Then it was back to town to get ready for our gig at the Fiction Bar on Long Street. The night was a great success. Everybody was happy, satisfied and tired. We trudged off with our gear for home. Along the way, Fletcher got a call from the security company that his house alarm had gone off. I suggested that maybe his cats had set it off, but, very calmly, he said he was sure that he'd been broken into. Back at the crib, there was a security guy standing in front of the house. The bottom half of the door had been kicked in. The thieves had run in, grabbed the turntables from the front room, knocked over the amp, magazines and records and taken off. Probably in about 30 seconds or so we figured. It was a long night. We had to wait for the police to properly report it so that he could claim it on insurance. It was light out by the time we got to bed.
The next day we went out to Gugulethu to check out the sunday afternoon sound system. Normally, they set up in the basketball court, but it had been taken over by an ANC rally and so the sound system was moved to a nearby basketball court. This was a totally DIY mission to make the music happen. The equipment was an amalgamation of stuff brought by whoever had it. It sounded pretty nasty, but the good vibes more than made up for that. We arrived just as the sun was setting and managed to catch quite a few MCs in the short time we were there. The amount of talented hip hop and ragga MCs in Cape Town is astounding (especially after being in Zenj and Bongo!). When it got dark, it got cold. The MCs gave way to just the DJs and people danced all over the basketball court trying to stay warm. Fletcher introduced me to people left and right - Teba was there, Crosby, a producer/MC that I'd meet the first night, Vuyo, a super nice guy who is a producer of roots reggae, Spencer, who was the man responsible for putting the whole thing on.......then it was time to go to the studio and listen and talk and show and tell. Perhaps some things from the studio tomorrow.......
Fletcher, aka DJ Dope with Teba
Sound system Gugulethu style
African Dope Studio headquarters
posted by Maga Bo at 11:54 PM
1 Comments:
hey there ...
that turntable got stolen? he hasnt told me that yet. pity i missed yer club gig. the soundsystem sounds like fun. yup cape town stylee! you look like yer been involved in some cool travel / work gigs
peace
storyboy in CT
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