We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Black Heroes

from Black Heroes by Tete Mbambisa

supported by
mrbrownetc
mrbrownetc thumbnail
howdy5000
howdy5000 thumbnail
/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £1 GBP  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

The title Black Heroes needs no explanation, and this composition is dedicated accordingly to three great figures of the struggle years, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, and Nelson Mandela. First recorded on 23 February 1976 for Tete’s Big Sound at a time of increasing tensions and repression, the story of this composition is soaked in the black experience of apartheid era South Africa. The 1976 South Africa of Black Heroes is of course the South Africa of the Soweto Uprisings where police opened fire on unarmed children protesting against the imposition of Afrikaans as the primary language of instruction in schools. Although Bra Tete is quite clear that his music is composed as music, rather than as political statement, he is also clear that both the title and dedication are significant and that as an artist he is also part of the wider community. As Vusi Khumalo wrote ‘Tete Mbambisa brings to the outside world this sad, sacred story, and puts the Black artist in the forefront.’ On a purely musical level it is fascinating to hear how the phrasing of this solo piano version mirrors that of the Tete’s Big Sound version and yet takes it in a subtly different direction. The memories of 1976 remain, although times have changed.

(Jonathan Eato)

credits

from Black Heroes, released April 19, 2012
Composed and arranged, Tete Mbambisa.
Tete Mbambisa, piano.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

JISA Records UK

JISA Records has been set up to release 'Black Heroes' - a new solo piano recording by Tete Mbambisa. All funds from sales of the recording go directly to Bra' Tete.

contact / help

Contact JISA Records

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like JISA Records, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now