Cover
LINER NOTESOn this album we hear the voices and music of oppressed people — black oppressed people of South Africa. They are in New York — involuntarily. They, and thousands of others, have been forced into exile by the tyrannical white regime of John Vorster. The fact that they are refugees has not broken them either physically or spiritually. If anything, they have been strengthened in their determination to liberate their country, South Africa, from the white oppressors. So, this album is their story — a story of the oppressed people of South Africa. It is a story of their struggle, a story of their victory which is as certain as sunrise. They know nothing will prevent them from attaining their freedom, particularly because they are not alone in waging their just struggle. Their black American brothers and sisters, as well as progressive forces throughout the world, stand shoulder to shoulder with them. The black American artists who participate in this album are a living testimony of the unbreakable umbilical cord that binds the black oppressed people of South Africa and America. The growing solidarity — now evident on campuses and in black communities throughout the USA — with the struggling people of South Africa and their liberation movement, the African National Congress, is evidence of a common heritage, a common present and a common future. The theme of the story is LIBERATION. Nsikane's Bell Song was composed by a black South African in the early 19th century. The song was originally intended to warn black South Africans about the evils of European colonial customs, namely "greed" and "plunder." The present version is a clarion call (sele, sele!) to revolution in order to overthrow the oppressive system of apartheid. Tshwarang Thebe (Hold your shields tight, children of Mother Africa) is a call to black people in South Africa to "go on the offensive." "Freedom is not served on a golden platter." "True freedom comes through the barrel of a gun." Ngeke, Ngeke, Ngeke — never, never, never will black people remain in bondage forever. Sizonqoba simply means "victory is cerlain." "Therefore, Mandela, Hero of Heroes (Qhawe lamaqhawe) despite the fifteen years of incarceration on Robben Island, remains as steadfast as ever — Nduk'engaphuki (the indestructible). Guiding Light expresses the desire for the revolution to succeed; so also, in a different way, does the national anthem — Nkosi Sikelel I'Afrika (God Bless Africa). Finally, the revolution will not be in vain. The Anthem for the New Nation calls on all freedom-loving people to join the LIBERATION movement now. Nothing says it better than these songs. Ossie Davis International Anti-Apartheid Year emblem by courtesy of the United Nalions. We wish to thank all those who freely contributed their time and talents towards the creation and production of this album. All proceeds from the sale of this album will go towards SAFCO'S programme of building schools and clinics for black young South African refugees. THE SOUTH AFRICA FREEDOM COMMITTEE Produced for SAFCO by: Abdullah Ibrahim & Sipo Mzlmela — A S'manjemanje Production. Cover Design: Abdullah Ibrahim Layout: Steve Dorso Recording Engineer: Phil Clendeninn Remix EngIneer: Phil Clendeninn Recorded at Down Town Sound Studio, New York City SAFCO RECORDS, a division of the South Africa Freedom Commitee 310 E. 44th Street. R. 1703 New York, NY 10017 |
VARIOUS ARTISTS
|
||||||||||||||||
TRACK LISTING
|
||||||||||||||||
ARTISTS
| ||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||