Achisa consists of six exceptionally talented young men, who grew up together at the Khayamnandi Home for Boys in the township of Langa, on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa: Thabo Matheatzie, Thembile Bam, Monde Nyamakazi, Lunga Mbethe, Suvuyo Kemele, and Sipho Mamomsi. Achisa...
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Achisa consists of six exceptionally talented young men, who grew up together at the Khayamnandi Home for Boys in the township of Langa, on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa: Thabo Matheatzie, Thembile Bam, Monde Nyamakazi, Lunga Mbethe, Suvuyo Kemele, and Sipho Mamomsi. Achisa represents the aspirations of a post apartheid generation that deserve to live in peace.
Simpiwe Matole, the multi-instrumentalist with Amampondo is actively involved in encouraging and promoting local talent, and he introduced Achisa to Robert Trunz of M.E.L.T. 2000. The audition took place in the tiny sitting room of Simpiwe's flat, with him accompanying the boys on his clapped-out piano. Two weeks later they were ready with their own songs, some of them written by Simpiwe, and went into the Milestone Studio in the town, where Sheldon Isaac took over.
Their debut album Achisa is sensational. Incorporating traditional rhythms with contemporary technology the message of the album is clear and emphatic. It is a message that comes from a country steeped in conflict but deserving of peace. These songs attracted the attention of the South African Non-Violence Project and the group were invited to perform for Nelson Mandela at the campaign launch in Cape Town in April '98. Sadly, the project failed due to lack of corporate sponsorship.
This is an exceptional group of young men whose voices speak not only to the youth of South Africa but to the rest of the world. Through Achisa?s eclectic mix of styles ? hip hop, rap, township jive, ambient dub, and reggae they transmit a global message worth listening to.
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