South African Actor Charles ‘Big Boy’ Maja Has Passed Away

BLK JKS

<span style=”display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;” class=”rm-shortcode” data-rm-shortcode-id=”5f16af7e78822c149940dee0fc091f0c”><iframe lazy-loadable=”true” src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/8KEUxEQQP7w?rel=0″ width=”100%” height=”auto” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no” style=”position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;”></iframe></span><p><strong><a href=”http://okayafrica.com/tag/blk-jks” target=”_blank”>BLK JKS</a></strong> was formed in 2000 Johannesburg by two childhood friends, <strong>Lindani Buthelez</strong>i and <strong>Mpumelelo Mcata. </strong>The band released their debut album, <em>After Robots</em>, in 2009. Inspired by Sonic Youth and Duke Ellington, the punk rock band has performed at large stages like during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. In 2014, they were the opening act for The Foo Fighters’ South African tour and they also collaborated with The Brother Moves On. Despite lead singer Lindani Buthelezi leaving the band, they are still around and kicking. Hear their recent single “Harare” above.</p>

DOOKOOM

<span style=”display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;” class=”rm-shortcode” data-rm-shortcode-id=”cef88f21f32f68a2220d12e02a743e6d”><iframe lazy-loadable=”true” src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tpd_WF_DfaM?rel=0″ width=”100%” height=”auto” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no” style=”position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;”></iframe></span><p><strong><a href=”https://www.okayafrica.com/tag/dookoom” target=”_blank”>Dookoom</a></strong> is a punk/hip-hop noise project from Cape Town that you’ve probably come across before. <strong>Isaac Mutant</strong>, the leader, has been in the hip-hop scene for years and collaborated with bands like <strong>Die Antwoord</strong> and <strong>Plain Madness</strong>. They released their first album <em>No !</em> In 2016 and their second, <em>Riffak,</em> in 2018. They mix Afrikaans, Sabela (a SA prison gang language associated with The Numbers Gang) and English in their lyrics. The band openly calls for Black liberation, through their angry and unapologetic tracks. Dookoom has disbanded in 2019 and some members have formed the band <strong>A$CII Dagger</strong>.</p>

Fruits & Veggies

<span style=”display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;” class=”rm-shortcode” data-rm-shortcode-id=”a3146a090203b60b49144e744e8ba0e3″><iframe lazy-loadable=”true” src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/aI1h_Y3e8tU?rel=0″ width=”100%” height=”auto” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no” style=”position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;”></iframe></span><p>Started back in 2008, the Durban-formed ska-punk band <strong><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/thepranksza/” target=”_blank”>Fruits &amp; Veggies</a></strong> has gone through drastic line-up changes. The original members were lead singer <strong>Purity, Jimbo, Sweet Lu, Zohan </strong>and<strong> Loopy</strong>. The band is influenced by many artists such as Nina Simone, Stimela and The Mahotella Queens. Purity left the band around 2014. It’s unclear whether they are still active or not.</p>

PURE

<span style=”display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;” class=”rm-shortcode” data-rm-shortcode-id=”6addfdf08ac8aab394c0c86690a48b9f”><iframe lazy-loadable=”true” src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Rc2luzgrE4?rel=0″ width=”100%” height=”auto” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no” style=”position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;”></iframe></span><p>It would be impossible to mention Fruits &amp; Vegetables and not <strong>PURE</strong>—the new project from band’s former frontwoman <strong>Purity Zinhle Mkhize</strong>. The now Cape Town-based artist’s new musical excursion is inspired by Gorillaz, The Strokes and Miriam Makeba. She released her <em>Vocal Alchemy</em> EP in 2018. Check out the video for single “Treasure,” which is full of afro futuristic influences.</p>

Afr0naut

<iframe src=”https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https://soundcloud.com/user-175891618/barfight-output-stereo-outrough-mixdown” width=”100%” height=”480″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no” class=”rm-shortcode” data-rm-shortcode-id=”f516b875e6cc1489456eeda741efe27b”></iframe><p>The blues punk duo <strong><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Musician-Band/Afr0naut-2429326527294988/” target=”_blank”>Afr0naut</a>,</strong> composed of <strong>Fumani Mahane</strong> and<strong> Thulasizwe Nkosi,</strong> was formed last year. The members’ hip-hop background is a big influence in their music. Nkosi plays guitar in TCIYF and mentions that the project is a chance for him to work on a different music with a calmer sound..</p>

GSAND!

<span style=”display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;” class=”rm-shortcode” data-rm-shortcode-id=”36abeff30b20f630f9b23764ffbb25cb”><iframe lazy-loadable=”true” src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/G_FLkyIK93c?start=37&rel=0″ width=”100%” height=”auto” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no” style=”position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;”></iframe></span><p>The reclusive and mysterious frontman <strong>Lindani Buthelezi </strong>created the jazz-punk band <strong><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/pg/gsandband/posts/?ref=page_internal” target=”_blank”>GSAND</a></strong> in 2012 and left BLK JKS shortly after. He gathered other musicians such as drummer <strong>Sello Skhalo Montwedi</strong> for the project. In GSAND, Buthelezi sings isiZulu and English stories for his daughter, he mentions.</p>

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