DJ Okapi

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AFS055 Citi Express - Living for the City

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AFS056 PT House - Big World

One of South Africa’s biggest independent labels for decades, the Music Team catalogue spanned all genres and markets in the country’s rich and varied industry. When it came to the disco sound popular in the late 80s and early 90s, artists in the stable had access to top studios, musicians and producers with an ear on the latest trends, as well as distribution via a number of Music Team imprints - CTV, Red Label, Spinna, Mambo Music, Solid and others. Run by Maurice Horwitz, Music Team gave talented working musicians a shot at stardom. Those who tasted success would typically release a few albums over as many years before moving on either to other labels or falling off the radar as times changed. 

Compiled here then are six tracks from the Music Team catalogue, originally released in South Africa between 1986 and 1992. Three are by popular male crooners Isaac ‘Cool Cat’ Mofokeng (‘Candy’), Linda Olifant (‘I Won’t Let You Go’) and Jappie Lebona (‘My Love is Yours) and are typical of the label’s take on the ‘bubblegum’ sound of the day, along with a slower groove by female singer Thandi Zulu (aka TZ Junior), ‘Instant Love (Eyami Lendoda)’. Two instrumentals — Mr. Ace’s ‘Ace 1’ and ‘Axe Chop’ by The Hard Workers, a popular studio project by Music Team’s in-house producer Tom Mkhize — meanwhile hint at the imminent rise of house and kwaito. All were forged in the fire of a cruel and volatile political system that was quickly unravelling - but instead of addressing the political realities of the day sought to provide listeners with an escape to a world where love and music were all that mattered.

Compiled with DJs and dancefloors in mind, Afrosynth Records’ Music Team Sampler dusts off some rare and long-forgotten gems and makes them available for a new audience.

A1 Isaac ‘Cool Cat’ Mofokeng - Candy  5:28
A2 Mr. Ace - Ace 1  4:34
A3 Linda - I Won’t Let You Go  5:19 

B1 Jappie Lebona - My Love Is Yours  5:52
B2 The Hard Workers - Axe Chop  2:59 
B3 Thandi - Instant Love (Eyami Lendoda)  5:00

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AFS045 VA - Music Team Sampler

Afrosynth Records is a Johannesburg-based record label and store. Digging up rare grooves in the city of gold, DJ Okapi brings a forgotten era of South African pop music back to life. Listen to his mix featuring a few tracks by South African disco star Kamazu at 10 am + pm CET. 

#KioskRadio #Outsiders21 #StayConnected

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🌐 "Outsiders" is our daily show hosted by global independent record labels 
📡 Connect with the Outsiders, every day, at 10 am or 10 pm CET
🔗 kioskradio.com

Outsiders: Afrosynth Records w/ DJ Okapi ft. Kamazu @ Kiosk Radio 30.03.2021

Afrosynth is back with DJ Okapi today focusing on the legendary eighties bubblegum singer and label affiliate Ntombi Ndaba.

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🌐 "Outsiders" is our daily show hosted by global independent record labels
📡 Connect with the Outsiders, every day, at 10 am or 10 pm CET
🔗 https://kioskradio.com

Outsiders: Afrosynth w/ DJ Okapi feat. Ntombi Ndaba @ Kiosk Radio 30.07.2021

'Flash A Flashlight' - Benjamin Ball (1984)

From the album 'Umakhulu' (AFS052)

Ayanda Sikade on Drums
Nduduzo Makhathini on Piano
Simon Manana on Alto Sax
Nhlanhla Radebe on Bass

Produced by Ayanda Sikade
Recorded by Peter Auret at Sumo Sound
Mixed and Mastered by Gavan Eckhart at Soul Fire Studios
Artwork: Michael MacGarry
Cover photo: Vuyo Giba

© Ayanda Sikade 2021/22
℗ Afrosynth Records 2021/22 - www.afrosynth.com

Distributed by Rush Hour, Amsterdam - www.rushhour.nl https://www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/umakhulu

Umakhulu

'Imithandazo Yeengelosi' (prayer of angels) - Ayanda Sikade

TZ Junior - 'Sugar My Love' (1985)

From the album 'Starlight' (AFS054)
Composed and produced by Emil Zoghby & John Galanakis
© 1983 Heads Music
℗ 2023 Afrosynth Records
Out in early 2023. Pre-order here: https://www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/starlight-5

Starlight

'Jah Jah Love' - Starlight

(S. Wonder) Jobete Music
From the album 'Citi Express - Living for The City' (AFS055)

© 1991 ON RECORD
℗ 2023 AFROSYNTH RECORDS

Out in mid-2023 on Afrosynth Records, distributed by Rush Hour. 
Pre-order here: https://www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/living-city-1

Living for the City

'Living for the City' - Citi Express

(Gamble, Huff) Mighty Three Music

© 1991 ON RECORD
℗ 2023 AFROSYNTH RECORDS

Out in mid-2023 on Afrosynth Records, distributed by Rush Hour.
Pre-order here: www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/living-city-1

'Love is the Message' - Citi Express

Instead of following trends, DJ Okapi has made it his mission to preserve and share a forgotten era of South African pop music, specifically the infectious sounds of synth-fuelled ‘80s ‘bubblegum’ disco and the house-driven kwaito grooves of the ‘90s. DJing since the early 2000s, Okapi started Afrosynth as a blog documenting his record collection. From 2016 to 2000 he ran a record store in downtown Johannesburg. Afrosynth now functions primarily as a reissue label, putting out classic South African sounds, as well as new jazz, via Rush Hour in Amsterdam. In the process he has helped bring artists like Ntombi Ndaba and Kamazu back to the international stage. Recently returned to Cape Town, the city of his birth, after more than a decade in Johannesburg, Okapi has shared his unique and soulful sound throughout Europe as well as Asia and Brazil. He has also compiled popular vinyl collections of South African music for Rush Hour, Soundway and Cultures of Soul.

DJ Okapi (Afrosynth Records)

Composed by D. Bridgens/N. Mohale
Published by Roi Music
Produced by D. Bridgens
Recorded at Kitchen Sync, Johannesburg
Engineered & mixed by D. Bridgens
© 1991 AZANIA RECORDS/MUSIC TEAM
℗ 2024 AFROSYNTH RECORDS

Distributed by Rush Hour - pre-order AFS056 here: https://www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/pt-house

Big World

'Big World' - PT House

Composed by D. Bridgens/N. Mohale
Published by Roi Music
Produced by D. Bridgens
Recorded at Kitchen Sync, Johannesburg
Engineered & mixed by D. Bridgens
© 1991 AZANIA RECORDS/MUSIC TEAM
℗ 2024 AFROSYNTH RECORDS

Distributed by Rush Hour - pre-order AFS056 here: www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/pt-house

2024

'Rebatla Muzik' - PT House

05/04/24

'Qinisela' - PT House

(T. Mkhize) Kato Music
From AFS045
© Music Team/CTV 1987
℗ Afrosynth Records 2024

pre-order here: https://www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/music-team-sampler

'Candy' - Isaac 'Cool Cat' Mofokeng

(H. Lebona) Roi Music
From AFS045
© Music Team/Spinna 1986
℗ Afrosynth Records 2024

pre-order here: www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/music-team-sampler

'My Love Is Yours' - Jappie Lebona

'Ace 1' - Mr. Ace (1992)

Kitchener's, Johannesburg 17/6/2016

Vusi shange - ‘Lesilo Rula’
5:30 - Gong masters -
10:45 Volcano - ‘Vanonyana Lava’
15:15 Mdu - ‘Waya Waya’
21:05 Ringo - ‘Isiphithiphithi’
27:00 Brenda Fassie - ‘Abantu bayakhuluma’
32:00 unknown track from ‘Dollar man dance’ LP 
37:00 Bailoo’s Beat - ‘Give it Up (Gauteng Mix)’
41:00 Scotch - ‘Scotch’
48:00 Rex Rabanye - ‘O Nketsang’
54:40 Hard Workers - ‘Ayoba-yo’

DJ Okapi 'Music is the weapon' one-hour kwaito mix

http://afrosynth.blogspot.co.za/search/label/The%20Hard%20Workers

Ayoba-Yo

'Axe Chop' - The Hard Workers (1988)

kitcheners 20 aug disco de moda

DJ Okapi fresh kwaito mix @ Disco De Moda

This is an old unmastered rip of the song featured on AFS035. Apologies for poor sound quality.

Tshigubu Tshanga

'Vanonyana Lava' - Volcano (1993)

'You Are The One' - Ntombi & Survival (1985)

Chappies (Reluctant Mix) - The Beat Gangsters

From the six-track album 'Tomorrow' out now on Afrosynth Records (AFS036).

Buy the record: http://www.rushhour.nl/store_detailed.php?item=100754
Digital: https://afrosynth.bandcamp.com/

Tomorrow AFS036

'Tomorrow' - Ntombi Ndaba

From the six-track album 'Tomorrow' out now on Afrosynth Records (AFS036).

Buy the record: www.rushhour.nl/store_detailed.php?item=100754
Digital: afrosynth.bandcamp.com

Mama Nature

'Is This Love' - Ntombi Ndaba

From the six-track album 'Tomorrow' out now on Afrosynth Records (AFS036).

Buy the record: www.rushhour.nl/store_detailed.php?item=100754
Digital: afrosynth.bandcamp.com/

AFS036 Tomorrow

'Heart Attack' - Ntombi Ndaba

written by E. Ndlela/ M. Horwitz 
1981 CTV/Music Team
2018 Afrosynth Records AFS037

AFS037 Dance

'Search For Love' - Night Force & The Tom Cats (1981)

Written by F. Degrijse/A. Denisse
1981 CTV/Music Team
2018 Afrosynth Records AFS037

'Dance' - Night Force & The Tom Cats

DJ Okapi (@afrosynth) DJ set at El cuerpo del Disco, berlínClub (@bclubmadrid), on October 6th 2018.

Dj Okapi at El cuerpo del Disco (berlínClub, Madrid)

Ta Duma

Ta Duma (12" instrumental) - Obed Ngobeni and the Kurhula Sisters (1984)

Think More About Me / You Are The One

'Think More About Me' - Ntombi & Survival

Composed by: S. Cooks, D. Coka, S. Phiri & A. Sibanda
Produced by: Steve Cooks (exec: Ronnie Robot)
From the album 'She’s a Witch (Tikoloshi'
1988 On Record
2019 Afrosynth Records AFS042
Pre-order here: www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/shes-witch-tikoloshi

She's A Witch (Tikoloshi)

'Hlabalaza' - The Bees

Bordeaux Open Air invites Johannesburg (7 July 2019)

DJ Okapi at Bordeaux Open Air

D2. Mandisi Dyantyis - 'Kuse Kude'

'Turn It Up (instr)' - Adaye

From the upcoming 4-track album 'Gorilla Man'(AFS047)
Originally released on the 1988 album Pick Six (CCP Record Company)
Composed & arranged by Condry Ziqubu
Engineers: Fab Grosso, Fernando Perdigao & Neville Holmes
Mixed by: Richard Mitchell

'Phola Baby' - Condry Ziqubu

Composed, arranged and produced by Condry Ziqubu & Selwyn Shandel
CCP Record Company 1986
Reissued by Afrosynth Records - AFS047 out in early 2021. 
pre-order here: https://www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/gorilla-man-0

'Gorilla Man' - Condry Ziqubu

Composed by Moses Mafiri
Produced & Arranged by Selwyn Shandel
Digital Editing: S. Shandel & F. Grosso
Engineer: Fab Grosso
1985 CCP Records/EMI
From the upcoming Afrosynth reissue AFS046
more details: http://www.afrosynth.com/2021/01/captin-mosez-fly-cherry-fly.html
Pre-order via Rush Hour: https://www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/fly-cherry-fly

'Fly Cherry Fly (Extended Vocal)' - Captain Mosez

Composed by Moses Mafiri
Produced & Arranged by Selwyn Shandel
Digital Editing: S. Shandel & F. Grosso
Engineer: Fab Grosso
1985 CCP Records/EMI
From the upcoming Afrosynth reissue AFS046, out in March 2021.
more details: http://www.afrosynth.com/2021/01/captin-mosez-fly-cherry-fly.html
Pre-order via Rush Hour: www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/fly-cherry-fly

'Hey! Hey! Hey! (Extended Vocal)' - Captain Mosez

DJ Okapi brings a forgotten era of South African pop music back to life.

djokapi@gmail.com

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