African Dizzy Fingers - Meadowlands Jive / Tshela Metsi
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AFRICAN DIZZY FINGERS
MEADOWLANDS JIVE / TSHELA METSI


recorded 1955c
issued 1955c
Envee
Trutone
made in South Africa
published by Melody Music
NV 3013
matrix 4602
matrix 4603
78 rpm
mono
source: Flatinternational Archive

TRACK LISTING

 

1.1Meadowlands Jive

(arr. Jill Desmond)

2.2Tshela Metsi

(arr. Jill Desmond)

ARTISTS

 

AFRICAN DIZZY FINGERS - flutes

NOTES

 

On February 9, 1955, 65 000 residents of Sophiatown, Johannesburg were forcibly moved to a number of other townships including the new location of Meadowlands, which had just been constructed by the government. Under the Group-Areas act, Sophiatown was declared a white area and renamed Triopf (Triumph).

Meadowlands is mentioned both in titles and lyrics in many songs from this period, most famously Nancy Jacobs and her Sisters' classic track. Rob Allingham points out that the lyrics in Jacob's song, though on the surface seeming apolitical, were interpreted by many as a subversive critique of the apartheid government's forced removals.

The political significance of Meadowlands and Allingham's observations led me to look at the title of Meadowlands Jive in a more critical light and to consider whether any song mentioning the township by name during this period was a reference to that traumatic event.

This recording was probably made around the time of the removals in 1955.