Using jazz to fight apartheid while creating a new sound

"I want young people to listen to malombo, music that formed part of our heritage in Mamelodi."

May 5, 2018

Thato Mahlangu 3 minutes read

Jazzman Julian Sebothane Bahula is no ordinary jazz artist – he used his talent to fight an oppressing government during the “dark days”.

Bahula told the Rekord recently that he was a freedom fighter who brought about change in the country.

“I used my music to fight the oppressive system that kept the likes of Nelson Mandela in prison for fighting for what was right – our freedom as black people,” he said.

Bahula was one of the artists who helped organise the African Sounds and Release Mandela concerts in London 35 years ago.

The concerts raised awareness about Mandela and other political prisoners, who had been jailed by the then apartheid government.

Bahula added that the event was also meant to highlight what was happening in the country during those “dark days”.

“We wanted the government to release Mandela and other struggle heroes who were jailed.”

According to Strut-Records, Bahula, an established concert promoter, and his wife Liza worked together with Jerry Dammers of The Specials.

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“Inspired by seeing Jabula’s ‘Mandela’ performed live at the concert, Dammers went on to write the massive Special AKA hit, ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ and set up Artists Against Apartheid in the UK.”

For his efforts in fighting a segregating and oppressive government, Bahula was honoured with the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold six years ago.

The presidency said that Bahula was awarded the Order for his exceptional contribution to and achievement in the field of music and the arts and the struggle for a free and democratic South Africa.

“He is honoured for his outstanding achievement in the genre of jazz music, being an excellent ambassador for South African music and contributing to the development of music in South Africa and the African diaspora.”

Bahula was born 80 years ago, in Eersterust, Pretoria.

His family was later forcefully removed to Mamelodi.

Bahula describes himself as a composer, musician and promoter.

He is a founder member of the famous musical group known as the Malombo Jazz Men of the early 1960s.

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Bahula was a household name in the 60s and early 70s in South African music scene because of malombo music. He also gained a reputation as a drummer.

Malombo music is considered to be an indigenous kind of jazz which infuses some ancestry sounds into the genre. The sound was popular in different townships, including Mamelodi, Soweto and Tembisa.

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Bahula has been calling Europe home for decades. While there, he played with the band Joburg Hawk at a time when the politics of apartheid were impacting both on life and music-making.

His move to London was the start of a new era for Bahula, who immediately joined the ANC under the chief representative of Reggie September, who introduced Bahula to the anti-apartheid movement.

He started working with musicians around town, forming his very first band in Europe, called Jabula. He toured Europe, working with all the anti-apartheid movements, raising needed funds and advancing awareness of the struggle.

Jabula had built a following for African music, so Bahula saw the need and formed Tsafrika Productions to promote African music.

The very first Mandela Birthday Concert in 1983 was the brainchild of Bahula, co-promoted with the late Mike Terry of the United Kingdom (UK) Anti-Apartheid Movement.

Bahula invited the late jazz maestro Hugh Masekela to come and headline at the event.

He has since promoted many exciting projects for the community and ethnic groups in London.

Bahula will be bringing Tshwane jazz lovers the Malombo Jazz Festival this Saturday and Sunday, which will be held at the Moretele Park and GoldRush Morula, respectively.

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He will be joined on stage by legendary jazz masters like Vusi Mahlasela, Abbey Cindi and Abigail Kubheka, among others.

“I want young people to listen to malombo, music that formed part of our heritage in Mamelodi. This event is meant to introduce young people to this original South African sound,” he said.