Harry Belafonte - Paradise In Gazankulu (1988)

Paradise in Gazankulu is an album by Harry Belafonte, released by EMI in 1988.

In 1988, Harry Belafonte turned 61 years old. After releasing exactly one album of new material in fifteen years, Belafonte showed the world that he still had enough in him to issue a collection of vital, exciting music with a point of view. Principally recorded at Powerhouse Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The cause that triggered this creative explosion was South Africa's apartheid system. Long an advocate of black sovereignty in the country, Belafonte combined anger, defiance, and pride in this invigorating selection of songs, recorded in Johannesburg and featuring South African artists such as Brenda Fassie and Youssou N'Dour. The wry, cynical humor in protest songs such as the title track, "Move It" and "Kwela (Listen to the Man)" hearken back to similarly constructed political songs from the West Indies. This album jumpstarted Belafonte's stalled recording career and was released along with concert videos of Belafonte and a variety of African recording artists supported by Kodak's home video division. Unfortunately, Belafonte has not been seen in the recording studio since.

Belafonte continues to illustrate his world class entertainer status with this infectious and inviting album. His smoky vocals are as evocative of faraway places and people as the lyrics are provocative to embracing brotherhood, peace, and the beauty of love for humankind as well as the loves of our life.

Songs depict the hardships of African life, though tough times are universal and the songs speak to that as well. Hope is a continuum throughout the songs as well as the male rapture over the joys of women and womanliness.

 

01.  "We Are the Wave"  (Jake Holmes, Richard Cummings, The Soul Brothers)  - 3:32

02.  "Paradise in Gazankulu"  (Holmes, Oben Ngobeni)  - 4:27

03.  "Skin to Skin"  (Holmes, Godfrey Nelson)  - 4:25

04.  "Amandla"  (Holmes, D. Zuma)   4:05

05.  "Kwela (Listen To The Man)"  (Holmes, S. M. Nkabinda)  - 4:00

06.  "Monday to Monday"  (Holmes, Zuma, R. Klaas)   4:14

07.  "Global Carnival"  (Holmes, Alistair Coakley)  - 3:43

08.  "Capetown"  (Holmes, M. Xaba, R. Bopape)  - 3:58

09.  "Sisiwami (Sweet Sister)"  (Holmes, The Soul Brothers)  - 4:49

10.  "Move It"  (Holmes, Van Van, Vusi Khumalo)  - 4:57

Released:  1988

Recorded at:  Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, CA, Evergreen Studios and MRC Studios, New York City, Powerhouse Studios, Johannesburg

Genre:  Folk, Calypso, Reggae

Label:  EMI

Length:  42:35

Producer:  Hilton Rosenthal

Personnel

Harry Belafonte - vocals

Jennifer Warnes - vocals on "Skin to Skin"

Alistair Coakely - guitar

Jose Alves - guitar

"Stompie" Themba Dlzmini - guitar

Laurence Matshiza - guitar, background vocals

V. Mkhize - guitar

Maxwell "China" Mngadi - guitar

José Neto - guitar

Oben Ngobeni - guitar

Marks Makwane - guitar

Alex Acuña - percussion

Neil Clarke - percussion

Youssou Ndour - percussion

Chi Sharpe - percussion

Assane Thiam - percussion

Babakar Meaye - percussion

Richard Cummings - keyboards

Christopher Dlathu - bass

Bakithi Kumalo - bass

Denny Laloutte - bass

Thembile Michael Masoka - bass

Joseph Mokwela - bass

Sicelo Ndlela - bass

Vusi Khumalo - drums, background vocals

Lucky Monoma - drums

Bongani Nxele - drums

Richie Marrero - keyboards, background vocals

Mduduzi Mlangeni - keyboards

Dumisane Ngubeni - keyboards

Moses "Crocodile" Ngwenya - keyboards

Hilton Rosenthal - keyboards, guitar

West Nkosi - pennywhistles

Victor Paz - trumpet

Francis Bonny - trumpet

Wilmer Wise - trumpet

Lemmy "Special" Mabaso - saxophone

Ricky Ford - saxophone

Morris Goldberg - saxophone

Dick Griffin - trombone

Carlos Ward - saxophone