Another great guest mix this month from DJ Okapi. He specialises in digging up rare electronic grooves in the ‘city of gold’ aka Johannesburg, bringing the forgotten era of South African pop music back to lifespecifically the synth-fuelled 80s disco-funk known as ‘bubblegum’ and the unique house-inspired ‘kwaito’ grooves of the early 90s.
His Afro-Synth blog has been instrumental in turning a new generation of music fans from all over the world on to South African music of the 80s and 90s, most of which was never heard outside the country at the time. The website has since grown into an online store and more recently a shop in downtown Johannesburg.
With African synthesiser music growing in popularity around the world, DJ Okapi recently put together a compilation of South African disco for US-based label Cultures of Soul, entitled ‘Boogie Breakdown’, released in September 2016.
He will be touring the UK for the first time in November 2016:
10 Nov – Boiler Room
11 Nov – NTS Radio
12 Nov – Good Block at The Brewhouse, London
15 Nov – Patterns, Brighton
18 Nov – Outlaws Yacht Club, Leeds
25 Nov – Banana Hill, Sheffield
26 Nov – Loosen Up, Glasgow
27 Nov – Paradise Palms, Edinburgh
Links:
www.afrosynth.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/OkapiDJ
https://soundcloud.com/afrosynth
https://www.mixcloud.com/afrosynth
https://www.instagram.com/afrosynth
Okapi appeared on Boiler Room Collections in May last year, well worth a watch.
TRACKLIST
State Of Grace - Touching The Times
Jan Lesile Holmes - Im Your Superman
Njoroge Benson - Nyinukia
Herele - Grande
Geore Darko – Kaakyire Nua
Imarhan – Tahabort
Ahmed Fakroun – Auidny
Djamel Allam – Galato
Ophelia – Red Light Lady
Bob Williams – I’m Alright
Yoruba Singers – Black Pepper
DJ OKAPI MIX
Griffin - Move
Stimela - I Love You
William Mthethwa - Mphe Borotho
Spokes H - Ibhabhalazi
Ayobayo Band - World is Turning Around
Pinky - Ahi Sona
Spykos - Siyaswimmer
Iyaya - Fallin in Luv (inst.)
O’Kasie Jam - Ow! It’s a Party
Mdu - Waya Waya
Yeah-bo! - Yeah Bo!
Huje – The Rising Sun
Bobby & Bobbie Fulton - Massa’ Grand Boy
The Fountain of Life Joy Choir – More Like Jesus
Lucia Turnbull – Aroma
END OF SHOW