Long Walk to Freedom: Tribute Nelson Mandela

Product Description
UK compilation released to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Mandela's release from prison. This album is a tribut to South African music during the 40 years starting from the year he was imprisoned to current day. The album starts with The Specials' 'Free Nelson Mandela' and ends with a new Ladysmith Black Mambazo track 'Congratulations South Africa', specially written for Mandela. 35 tracks in all by such artists as Miriam Makeba and Lucky Dube. 2000 release. Slimline double jewel case.

Tracks:

Free Nelson Mandela - The Specials
Chaka - The Manhattan Brothers
Umfaan
Isonto Lezayoni
Banjo Special - Spokes Mashiyane
Laku Tshoni "Langa"
Zulu Boy Kwela
Midnight Ska - Reggie Msomi's Hollywood Jazz Band
Ulova - The Young Stars
Shosholoza
Click Song - Miriam Makeba
Mary - The Soul Brothers
Mama Thembu's Wedding - Margaret Singana
Tula Baba
Give
Thakane
Gazette - Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens
African Changes - Stimela
Tumelo
Remember Me - Lucky Dube

Tracks:

Burn Out - Sipho Mabuse
Hellfire - African Jazz Pioneers
Homeless - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Umathimula - Bayete
Mbube - Mahotella Queens
Tomorrow Nation - O'Yaba
Afrikan Dream
Prince - Jabu Khanyile
Nkosi Sikele'l Afrika
African Spirit - West Nkosi
Taxman - Lucky Dube
Kwela Hotspot - Big Voice Jack Lerole
Isitimela Sangena - Wrasse Man
Sophiatown - Soweto String Quartet
Congratulations South Africa - Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Album Description

UK compilation released to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Mandela's release from prison. This album is a tribut to South African music during the 40 years starting from the year he was imprisoned to current day. The album starts with The Specials' 'Free Nelson Mandela' and ends with a new Ladysmith Black Mambazo track 'Congratulations South Africa', specially written for Mandela. 35 tracks in all by such artists as Miriam Makeba and Lucky Dube. 2000 release. Slimline double jewel case.

Album Details

To Celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of Nelson Mandela's Release from Prison this Album is a Tribute to South African Music During the Four Decades Starting from the Year When He was Imprisoned in the 60's Through to the Current Day. Artists Include: Specials, Manhattan Brothers, Johannesburg African Choir, Stimela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and West Nkosi.

Customer Reviews:

Beginners Guide to SA music.......2001-10-11

This compilation is a good introduction to South African music.Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the best known SA group, makes an obligatory appearance with Paul Simon on "Homeless" which introduced them to non SA audiences. Although "Free Nelson Mandela" by the Specials , strictly speaking is not a South African tune (the group hails form the UK), the tune captures the area's flavor well and stands as one of the best freedom songs of the African diaspora. Some nice SA jazz tunes from groups like West Nkosi and the African Jazz Pioneers give you a feel for this kind of music and some of the voal tunes are excellent. Paticularly "Zulu Boy" with it's appealing vocalist and the Soul Brothers' "Mary" with is appealing SA take on American Soul Music. Miriam Makeba and her former group the Manhattan Brothers also appear (the latter in a curious tune about the SA hero Chaka Zulu, since English is clearly not the first language of many of the assembled performers, most of the English-language tunes sound less natural here for the most part).

We also listen to South African choral music from a Johannesburg Choir and the South African AME choir (the later singing the SA national anthem). In fact the only truly weak tunes in this collection are the ones where the performers try to imitate Western synthesizer-pop. However, Malanthini and the Mahotella Queen's "Gazette" is an appealing mix of Western Technology without sacrificing the things that make SA music great.