Resistance Is Defence

Resistance Is Defence is an album by the South African musician Mzwakhe Mbuli.[3][4] It was released in 1992.[5] Some of its songs were banned from South African radio.[6]

Resistance Is Defence
Studio album by
Mzwakhe Mbuli
Released1992
GenreDub poetry[1]
LabelEarthworks/Virgin[2]
ProducerTrevor Herman
Mzwakhe Mbuli chronology
Unbroken Spirit
(1988)		 Resistance Is Defence
(1992)		 Afrika
(1993)

Mbuli supported the album, his first to be released internationally, with a global tour.[7][8] Mbuli's touring band was dubbed the Equals.[9]

Production

The album was produced by Trevor Herman.[10] Its songs are about South African apartheid, township life, and hope.[9] The sound draws from kwela, township jive, and mbaqanga.[11] "Chris the Doyen", which Mbuli performed at the funeral of Chris Hani, appears on some editions of Resistance Is Defence.[12]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Robert ChristgauA[14]
The Indianapolis Star[15]
Los Angeles Daily News[16]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide[10]

Robert Christgau noted that Mbuli "didn't start out as a musician—like Linton Kwesi Johnson, he's just a poet who loves music enough to do it right."[14] Spin included the album on its list of "10 Best Albums You Didn't Hear in '92," writing that "in a world of post-apartheid township jive, Mbuli stands tall ... as both an influence and an inspiration."[17] The Los Angeles Daily News deemed it "some of the most uplifting dance music on the planet."[16]

The Indianapolis Star determined that "it's Mbuli's defiant optimism that rings over the pop township jive by varying his message through questions, rational dialogue and sarcasm."[15] The St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote: "Wedded to the infectious grooves provided by the musicians, and served with a stunningly tasty set of catchy hooks, Mbuli's lyrics find him dancing on the grave of oppression, even if he's not quite convinced the corpse is in it yet."[18] The Washington Post stated: "The album's most powerful song, 'Tshipfinga', delivers this reminder in English to South Africa's younger generation of blacks: 'When you vote and get elected, think of those who died. When you govern the country, think of those who died'."[19]

AllMusic wrote that Mbuli "recites his work against a background of driving South African rhythms including kwela, mbaqanga, and sax jive."[13]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Uyeyeni" 
2."Tshipfinga (Chipinga)" 
3."Pitoli" 
4."Stalwarts" 
5."Land Deal" 
6."Lusaka" 
7."Emandulo" 
8."Ndimbeleni" 
9."Joyina" 
10."Malambalamba" 

References
  1. Nazareth, Errol (July 10, 1992). "DUB'S THE RUB". Entertainment. Toronto Sun. p. 62.
  2. "The Rough Guide to South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland". Rough Guides UK. February 2, 2015 – via Google Books.
  3. Mojapelo, Max (July 26, 2008). "Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music". African Minds – via Google Books.
  4. Birnbaum, Larry (Feb 1992). "Cheer of a Black Planet". DownBeat. 59 (2): 36.
  5. Cornwell, Gareth; Klopper, Dirk; Mackenzie, Craig (April 13, 2010). "The Columbia Guide to South African Literature in English Since 1945". Columbia University Press – via Google Books.
  6. "Singer Mzwakhe Mbuli is quick to dispel notions...". Vancouver Sun. 13 May 1993. p. F8.
  7. Feist, Daniel (2 May 1992). "MZWAKHE MBULI RESISTANCE IS DEFENCE". The Gazette. p. D1.
  8. Gehr, Richard (Apr 1992). "World Beat". Spin. 8 (1): 91.
  9. Moon, Tom (1 May 1993). "POET/SINGER MZWAKHE MBULI". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D9.
  10. MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 498.
  11. Barlow, Sean; Eyre, Banning (1995). Afropop!. Chartwell Books, Inc. p. 16.
  12. McNeil, Jr., Donald G. (1 Apr 1998). "A South African Celebrity Awaits Trial, Without Bail, in a Bank Robbery". The New York Times. p. E1.
  13. "Mzwakhe Mbuli - Resistance Is Defence Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  14. "Robert Christgau: CG: Mzwakhe Mbuli". www.robertchristgau.com.
  15. Miley, Scott L. (2 Mar 1992). "Mzwakhe Mbuli Resistance Is Defence". The Indianapolis Star. p. D5.
  16. Shuster, Fred (February 7, 1992). "WORLD BEAT". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L42.
  17. Foege, Alec (Dec 1992). "10 Best Albums You Didn't Hear in '92". Spin. 8 (9): 72.
  18. Pick, Steve (13 Mar 1992). "A Superb Blending Of Poetry And Music". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4F.
  19. "MZWAKHE MBULI'S POLITICAL DANCE PARTY". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
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