Freshlyground

Freshlyground released their debut album, Jika Jika, in early 2003. The commercial success of this album ultimately kick-started their career and re-affirmed their reputation as a fresh and vibrant young face in South African music. The commercial success of this album launched their career through their reputation as a vibrant South African band. The exposure from this album resulted in an invitation for the band to perform at both the Harare International Festival of the Arts and the Robben Island African Festival. This album was remixed by Keith Farquharson, remastered by Chris Athens and re-released in 2008.[1]

In 2004, Freshlyground participated in the opening of Parliament of South Africa by perfoganised as a celebration of ten years of democracy in South Africa.

At the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), Freshlyground performed with Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi.

The band went on to perform alongside local legend Miriam Makeba, as well as Stanley Clarke and Femi Kuti at the North Sea Jazz Festival, held during April in Cape Town. July also marked a break from the recording studio for the band, who had been working hard on their then unreleased album Nomvula. The band took this time to perform at the Villa Celimontana Festival in Rome, Italy.

Finally, in late 2004, Freshlyground released their very successful album, Nomvula. Although the uptake of the album was initially slow, it eventually went on to achieve double platinum status locally. Initial success was largely due to the catchy, feel-good, lyrics of Doo Be Doo, which enjoyed significant play on local radio, it was also covered in Indonesian by singer Gita Gutawa. Follow-up hits included I'd like and the signature track Nomvula, the former achieving unprecedented success on radio charts such as the 5FM Top 40, where it remained at No. 1 for several weeks.[2]

The album Ma'Cheri was released on 3 September 2007. The album was again produced by JB Arthur and Victor Masondo, engineered by David Langemann and was recorded in Cape Town. The first single is called Pot Belly followed by Fired Up and Desire.

Freshlyground's album Radio Africa was released in May 2010, and as part of the album release, they released a collaborative music video with the ZANews puppeteers. A satirical track about Robert Mugabe (Chicken to Change) has received coverage in the British media.

On 23 January 2010, Freshlyground performed at the official inauguration game at the new Cape Town Stadium, where local Cape Town football clubs Ajax Cape Town and Santos played each other in a match decided on penalties.

A song by Colombian pop star Shakira and Freshlyground was the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The song, titled "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", is based on "Zangalewa", a popular Makossa African soldiers' song by Golden Sounds. "Zangalewa" was a hit single in Colombia in 1987. Shakira and Freshlyground performed the song at the pre-tournament kick-off concert in Soweto on 10 June.

The following July, the band also took part in the official handing-over ceremony,[3] which took place in South Africa.

"This album captures the emotion, the passion and the energy of our live performances", explains violinist Kyla-Rose Smith adding, "our live concerts have always been at the bedrock of our popularity", she says.[4]

1. "Train Love" (4:12)
2. "Ocean Floor" (3:15)
3. "Rain" (5:07)
4. "Castles in the Sky" (3:20)
5. "Feels Like Sunday" (3:40)
6. "Mbira No. 2" (2:18)
7. "Zipho Phezulu" (3:06)
8. "Mali" (4:07)
9. "Castles in the Sky" (3:36)
10. "Mowbray Kaap" (6:04)
11. "Nomvula" (7:27)

(#ITA 96[7])

1. "I am the man" (4:57)
2. "Nomvula" (4:46)
3. "Manyana" (5:13)
4. "Vanish" (5:20)
5. "Zithande" (4:40)
6. "I'd like" (6:25)
7. "Doo Be Doo" (5:14)
8. "Things Have Changed" (4:17)
9. "Buttercup" (5:37)
10. "Human Angels" (6:25)
11. "Father Please" (4:03)
12. "Mowbray Kaap" (6:03)
13. "Touch in the Night" (2:44)
14. "Doo Be Doo (Remix)" (European bonus track)

1. "Ma' Cheri" (4:31)
2. "Desire" (4:13)
3. "Pot Belly" (4:15)
4. "Ask Me" (4:26)
5. "Baby Tonight" (4:51)
6. "Fired Up" (4:11)
7. "Gogorilla" (4:18)
8. "Arms of Steel" (4:32)
9. "Pink Confetti" (3:47)
10. "Zulu Lounge" (5:52)
11. "Ivana" (4:18)
12. "Umalume" (5:15)
13. "Crimson Smile" (3:36)
14. "Manikiniki" (6:30)
15. "Air Hostess" (bonus track) (4:09)

1. "Moto" (3:39)
2. "Fire Is Low" (4:02)
3. "The Dream of Love" (3:29)
4. "Big Man feat. Les Nubians" (3:47)
5. "Baba" (3:16)
6. "Baby in Silence" (3:40)
7. "Would You Mind" (3:08)
8. "Vula Amehlo" (3:51)
9. "Chicken to Change" (4:20)
10. "Working Class" (4:01)
11. "Whaliphalaligazi" (4:22)
12. "Waka Waka (Afro Fab Mix)" (3:24) [Bonus Track]
13. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (5:23) [Bonus Track]
14. "Big Man (Beefcake Mix)" (3:31) [Bonus Track]

1. "Chain Gang" (3:35)
2. "Everything" (3:55)
3. "Nomthandazo" (4:08)
4. "Not Too Late for Love" (3:59)
5. "Take Me to the Dance" (4:06)
6. "The Man Moves" (3:20)
7. "Won't Let Go" (4:14)
8. "Mina Nobhiza" (5:35)
9. "Dancing Baby" (0:56)
10. "The Message" (5:16)
11. "Leave a Light On" (3:50)
12. "Shake It (Julst Like You Wanna)" (3:57)
13. "You Would Love" (4:49)
14. "Party Time" (3:22)
15. "Everybody Must Get Stoned" (bonus track) (0:36)

1. "Izihlangu" (4:55)
2. "Africa Unite" (4:03)
3. "Shake It" (3:50)
4. "Refugee" (3:54)
5. "Take Me to the Dance [Boxsta Remix]" (4:39)
6. "Beautiful Boy" (4:00)
7. "Everything" (3:54)
8. "How Low Can Yu Go" (3:21)
9. "Yeah Yeah" (4:12)
10. "Rain [Live at Guild Theater, East London]" (6:27)
11. "Doo Be Doo [Live at Guild Theater, East London]" (6:36)
12. "Rain [Live at Guild Theater, East London]" (7:00)
13. "Waka Waka [Live at Centenary Hall, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth]" (5:57)

• "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)"
  (2010 FIFA World Cup single by Shakira)