Batsumi - Batsumi
Cover
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LINER NOTES

 

"BATSUMI"... e... "BATSUMI"... "Kapa o batla ho tseba hore na BATSUMI bana hothweng ka bona?" Hona hantle-hantle ho hlalosa bona Batsumi ba Tsomang tje ka ha o tseba, empa hao nahana ka Batsumi ba tsomang diphoofolo o fositse haholo, hoba bana Batsumi ke ba tsomang... tsebo, mmino, medumo, lefa, kago ya mminole tseding ka mefuta-futa. Puo tlwaelo e tshwentseng bo-ratseba, mabapi le qalo le ho itlhalosa, hape le tseding tse ngata, mona e itshupa bonnete ba puo eseng feela ka mantswe empa le ka medumo. Ho o thusa mabapi le tsebo ya hore mang ke mang... eng ke eng, keo ngoletse mabitso a bahlankana le diphala-mefuta tse ba di bapalang kopanong ena.

"BATSUMI" Yes... "BATSUMI"... "You want to know perhaps what this BATSUMI is all about?" Literally, this name explains a group of people out on hunting; in short... Hunters. In case you are thinking of people hunting for animals... this is not the case. It is people hunting, but this time not for animals but - for Ideas, Music, Sounds, Art, Creativity and so on. The commonplace that rings in almost every critics mind as regards originality, self expression, Bla... Bla... Bla... has here the true meaning of the saying, not just in words... but in sounds. To secure you from knocking your head as to who is who... what is what, I have listed herewith, the names and instruments of the gentlemen involved in this machinery.

1. LISHONILE — (Zulu African Jazz)
2. EMAMPONDWENI — (Xhosa African Jazz)
3. MAMSHANYANA — (Sotho African Jazz)
1. ITUMELENG — (Sotho African Jazz)
2. ANISHILABI — (Shangaan African Jazz)

THABANG MASEMOLA — Fulutu Le Fulutu-lekorokoti... Le Setorotoro (Flute, Muted Flute And Jewharp)
THEMBA KOYANA — Sax Ya Tinoro (Tenor Sax)
BUTA-BUTA ZWANE — Moopedi Le Moletsi Wa Dibongo (Vocal & Bongos)
MASWASWE MOTHOPENG — Moopedi Le Moletsi Wa Katara (Vocal & Guitar)
SELLO MOTHOPENG — Okana (Organ)
THABANG MASEMOLA — Meropa Ya Batsumi (Batsumi Drums)
LEKGABE MALEKA — Meropa (Drums)
ZULU BIDI — Katara E Kgolo (Double Bass)

Producer — BABA MATIWANE
Cover Design & Original Artwork — ZULU BIDI
Liner Notes — THABANG MASEMOLA
Engineer — CHRIS VAN SCHOUWEN, AUDIO ARTS

Published by Ibeshu Music Publishing Company
Recorded & Marketed By The Record & Tape Co. (Pty.) Ltd.
 

BATSUMI
BATSUMI


recorded 1974
issued 1974
R&T
SATBEL
made in South Africa
produced by Baba Matiwane
published by Ibeshu
RTL 4041
matrix RTL 4041 A
matrix RTL 4041 B
33 rpm
first issue
cover images by Zulu Bidi
cover design by Zulu Bidi
cover printed by Interpak
source: Flatinternational Archive

TRACK LISTING

 

1.1Lishonile

(Bidi, Zwane, L + J Mothopeng)

1.2Emampondweni

(Bidi, Zwane, L + J Mothopeng)

1.3Mamshanyana

(Bidi, Zwane, L + J Mothopeng)

2.4Itumelang

(T. Masemola)

2.5Anishilabi

(Zwane, Masemola, Bidi, L + J Mothopeng)

ARTISTS

 

THABANG MASEMOLA - flute, Jews harp, drums
THEMBA KOYANA - tenor sax
BUTA-BUTA ZWANE - vocal, bongos
MASWASWE MOTHOPENG - vocal, guitar
SELLO MOTHOPENG - organ
LEKGABE MALEKA - drums
ZULU BIDI - double bass
BATSUMI

NOTES

 

Locating information on Batsumi is difficult and finding their albums is equally hard. The group was formed in 1972. This, their first LP Batsumi (R&T, RTL 4041) was released in 1974 and was followed by Moving Along (R&T, RTL 4100) in 1976. A compilation featuring tracks from each of those albums was issued in 1977. The liner notes to their second LP allude to a third album but it is not clear whether this was ever issued.

The track Lishonile has been featured on the compilation CD: Ouelele: Another Collection of Modern Afro Rythms.