This CD of mostly unreleased raw sound recordings by Amampondo and their friends was compiled with the many friends of the group in mind who for over two decades haven’t missed an opportunity to see the group live. There is no better way to experience the energy and beauty of acoustic dance music then having such a large group of drummers, marimba players and singers being united on one stage giving themselves over to the forces and the spirit of collective music making. Economic & political changes make it increasingly more difficult ( and in some cases even impossible) to preserve that tradition of acoustic dance music and the touring of such a large groups without the support and sponsorship of theprivate industry and the Arts and Culture departments of our governments. We like to thank all the people and institutions who made it possible for this fantastic group to tour the world for the past 25 years and a special thank goes to Chris Lewis for mixing many of their live shows but at the same time keeping an eye on recording performances creating a library of precious raw and undiluted Amampondo sound files !

1. Woza – Amampondo 4:39 Horns by Simpiwe Matole, Michael Ludonga, Mandla Lande & Leo Mbizela (Blackie) FROM THE ALBUM VUYANI (BWSA 21430)

2. Umtshingo Nentombi – Amampondo 3:57 Performed live in 1998 @ the Spoleto Roman Amphitheatre in Italy. Dizu Plaatjies. Simpiwe Matole, Mandla Lande, Michael Ludonga, Mzwandile Qotoyi, Brice Wassy (Cameroon), Leo Mbizela aka Blackie, Lungiswa Plaatjies, Nomfundo Mayekiso,  Mantombi Matotiyana, Suzan Hendricks. Recorded off the desk live onto 4 track NAGRA D, mixed by Chris Lewis.

3. Song for Fela- Amampondo 6:59 Performed live in 1997 @ The Fin de Siecle Festival’s LU Concert Hall in Nantes, France. Special guest Mabi Thobejane. Dizu Plaatjies. Simpiwe Matole, Mandla Lande. Michael Ludonga, Mzwandile Qotoyi, Leo Mbizela (Blackie) Lungiswa Plaatjies, Nomfundo Mayekiso,  Mantombi Matotiyana, Recorded by the Flying Dutchmen in their mobilestudio “The Van ” onto DA88’s. Mixed and mastered by Chris Lewis at Brownhill Studios and the Music With No Name Studio in Cullinan, South Africa.

4. Inkosi Yamampondo – DZM PROJECT DIZU PLAATJIES, MZWANDILE QOTOYI 5:35 From the album Tribal Ethno Dance (BW 092) with additional production by Airto Moreira. DIZU PLAATJIES, MZWANDILE QOTOYI, MANGALISO MAXANJANA, Jose Luis Quintana aka Changuito and Mayito. The traditional Amampondo choir are: MANTOMBI MATOTIYANA, LUNGISWA PLAATJIES, MANGALISO MAXANJANA, SGULANA XIMBI, NOMVUYO XIMBI, MAMXESBIE XIMBI, MFUNEKO MAGADALA, NOMFUNDO MAYEKISO, NKULULEKO LUDONGA, MZWANDILE QOTOYI, DIZU PLAATJIES AND SIMPIWE MATOLE

5. Embo – Mantombi Matotiyani 3:56 Recorded by Chris Lewis at Brownhill Farm Studios in England during the Launch tour of the album Drums For Tomorrow in 1997

6. Salawena (stay if you want to) – Amampondo 5:47 From the album Drums For Tomorrow (BWSA096)

7.  Itshintsh’Ikhona – AMAMPONDO 4:48 From the album Vuyani (BWSA2143)

8. Ama’Pancho – Amampondo and Changuito 3:42 Recorded during the 1995 recording session at Downtown Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa. Changuito, Simpiwe Matole, Michael Ludonga, Mandla Lande, Jessica Lauren, Lungiswa Plaatjies, Dizu Plaatjies

9. Giya Kasiamore- Amampondo7:51 From the album Free At Last – Outernational Meltdown (BW076) recorded at Milestones Studios in Cape Town 1994 Mixed by Airto Moreira and Robert Trunz Amampondo members Mzwandile Qotoyi, Mandla Lande Dizu Plaatjies, Simpiwe Matole, Michael Ludonga, Leo Mbizela (Blackie) and project leader Airto Moreira on percussion.

10. Emva Ekhaya – Mantombi Matotiyani 3:06 recorded by Chris Lewis at Brownhill Farm Studios in England during the Launch tour of the Amampondo album Drums For Tomorrow in 1997

11. Uhadi baobow– Dizu Plaatjies, Mzwandile Qotoyi and Richard Ajileye 4”53 Dizu and Mzwandile playing the traditional Uhadi from the Transkei and Richard the Brazilian Berimbao. Recorded outdoors at Brownhill Farm Studios England during the recording sessions of Drums For Tomorrow by Richard Edwards. The original tape disappeared for almost a decade and was rediscovered during the company’s move to South Africa.

12. Motokale – Madosini 2”43 Arranged by DIZU PLAATJIES – MZWANDILE QOTOYI From the recordings of the album Madosini – Power to the Women (BWSA108). Madosini was recorded at Milestones Studios in Cape Town by Murray Anderson. The Amampondo choir together with friends from Cuba, Changuito and Mayito were recorded @ Downtown Studios, Johannesburg in October 1995 by Chris Lewis.Mixed at Brownhill Farm Studios by Greg Hunter.

13. Mamaliye – Amampondo 6”16 Performed live in 1997 @ The Fin de Siecle Festival’s LU Hall inNantes (see track 3 for more info)

14. Eh Kemba Kalla Hoe, Kemba Kalla Hoa I Kalla Gne Mandoro, I Kalla Gne Fagnahi – PedXulu 5”43 Recorded live by Chris Lewis from the front of house mixing desk at the ARTS ALIVE Festival 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa at the Turbine Hall in Newtown. PedXulu core members are: Randimbarison Ricky – vocal and percussion (Madacasgar), Mabi Thobejane & Thabang Philip Tabane jnr. On Malombo- and African drums, congas and bongos. Simpiwe Matole on trumpet, keyboard and percussion, Mandla Lande on congas and metla percussion, Michael Nkululeko Ludonga on African drums and surdo, Dave Mxholise Mayakane on guitar and vocals and Sibusiso Bernard Mndaweni on bass. Featured guests are Vincent Mtetwa on keyboard, Byron Wallen (UK) on trumpet, Ivan Mazuze (Mozambique) and Duke Norman on sax and flute.