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LINER NOTES"AMANDLA" Cultural Group African National Congress Of South Africa The "Amandla" cultural group has released a new record, devoted to the 75th anniversary of the African National Congress (ANC) - the leading force in the national liberation struggle of South Africa*. The record which was made during the XII World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow enables listeners to become acquainted with some aspects of the revolutionary art of the people of South Africa. The group's participation in the Festival and its performance in the world-known Moscow Academic Arts Theatre was one of the highlights of the Festival’s cultural and political programme. The dramatic performances of the group very often spontaneously turn into solidarity type meetings. This, as well as the amalgamation of traditional music and songs with deep political content enriches the group's use of innovative forms of political theatre. The group, in developing new creative forms, is inspired by the unprecedented upsurge of the resistance movement inside South Africa. Truly moving is the group's ability to react to events inside the country. Such a rapid response to developments in South Africa organically coincides with the well preparated performance programme, thereby emphasising the outstanding flexibility of the group which uses its art in the interests of the liberation struggle. This particular feature of "Amandla" is a fine example of truly popular revolutionary art free of commercialism. The central characters of every performance are the people. In all scenes virtually dozens of people fill the stage making the impression that there are three times more artists in "Amandla" than there actually are. The secret lies in the great versatility and dynamism of the members of the group. Having finished the previous piece and immediately having changed their costumes the artists reappear on the stage in new roles and this goes on throughout the performance which lasts for three hours. Those whom we used to consider singers and dancers today play various instruments. The musicians contribute much to the success of dancing and choral pieces. However, “Amandla" is as always distinguishable by leaders-stars in every genre in which the group works. The group is in close touch with Motherland. Its repertoire includes songs and dances produced by the people and its heroic armed forces in the struggle against apartheid. "Amandla" is very popular in South Africa despite severe press control and banning of its records inside the country. Listening to "Amandla" records can lead to arrest and imprisonment in South Africa. The members of the group are directly involved in the struggle against apartheid. Nomkhosi Mini - one of the leading artists of "Amandla", a daughter of the outstanding singer and revolutionary Vuyisili Mini, died in combat in 1985. But the comrades, who have left the group are replaced by other ANC activists, who share the same aims and ideals and who maintain and strengthen the reputation of the group as a sharp weapon in the struggle against apartheid. The new record confirms the great creative potential of "Amandla". It serves as a convincing evidence of the fact, that its art, much appreciated by the people of South Africa and its vanguard — the African National Congress — is on the rise. It helps to bring closer the fall of apartheid regime and the time when "Amandla" songs will be sung openly in the concert halls, in the streets and on the squares at the future united non-racial democratic South Africa. V. TETIOKIN * The previous record was released by "Melodia" in 1982. Music by J. Gwangwa and N. Khuze (1—7). Music and words by B. Senzo (8, 9) Recording engineer R. Raghimov. Editor B. Tikhomirov. Cover design by V. Voronin |
AMANDLA
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TRACK LISTING
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NOTESThis LP is the second of two Russian releases featuring Amandla, part of the ANC's cultural arm in exile. Shirli Gilbert has an excellent essay on Mayibuye and Amandla in the book COMPOSING APARTHEID—Music For and Against Apartheid, edited by Grant Olwage. View Matsuli's listing here for more information about the group. |
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