National Wake

National Wake was a multiracial punk rock band in South Africa in the late 1970s that emerged from a series of jam sessions in an underground commune. They were created in protest of the apartheid regime.[1] They were South Africa's first multiracial punk band.[2]

National Wake
OriginJohannesburg, South Africa
Genres
Years active1978 (1978)–1982 (1982)
LabelsLight in the Attic Records
Past members
  • Ivan Kadey
  • Gary Khoza
  • Punka Khoza
  • Steve Moni
  • Mike Lebesi
  • Paul Giraud
Websitewww.thisisnationalwake.com

History

Ivan Kadey, an architecture student in Johannesburg at the time, formed the band with brothers Gary and Punka Khoza. Ivan Kadey was a Jewish orphan born in Johannesburg. Gary, Punka, and their family were forcibly moved to Soweto township under the policy of apartheid. The band was later joined by guitarist Steve Moni.

National Wake were formed in 1978, two years after the student inspired Soweto uprising.[3] National Wake split in 1982 just after putting out their solitary studio album in 1981, which sold approximately 700 copies before being withdrawn under government pressure.

National Wake is covered in the Punk in Africa documentary.[3]

Style

National Wake played punk, reggae, and tropical funk, but also incorporating two-tone ska and African rhythms. The band's signature tune "International News" decries state censorship and the atrocities of the Angolan War of Independence.[4] National Wake's existence was a subversive threat to the South African status quo, a policeman cynically suggested that they could make more money as a band playing in exile. The music has a hint of third wave ska with influences of the Clash.[5]

Czech Radio described the band as "perhaps the most dissident music scene of the 20th century: a multi-racial punk band in a fascist police state".

Members
  • Ivan Kadey - Guitar and vocals
  • Gary Khoza - Bass guitar
  • Punka Khoza - Drummer
  • Steve Moni - Guitar

Discography

Studio albums
  • National Wake (1981)

Compilations
  • Walk in Africa 1979-81 (2013)

References
  1. "Rediscovered: Apartheid-Era Punk | National Wake – "Walk In Africa 1979-81″ | PRE-ORDER!". Light in the Attic Records. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  2. Petridis, Alexis (2013-10-03). "National Wake: the South African punk band who defied apartheid". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  3. "National Wake - National Wake - Neon Filler". Neon Filler. 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  4. "A History of Anti-Fascist Punk Around the World in 9 Songs | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  5. "The Best Rock You've Never Heard of #2: National Wake". Milled. 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
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