It was with great sadness we learned yesterday of the death of Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, the father of our Country, South Africa. We had planned to bring you today a holiday season special, but we’ve decided to hold that over until next week. Instead, we have a very special introduction by our friend Toby Tobias after which he will perform a new song with his Ensemble dedicated to Madiba. This is the first public broadcast of this new work. After that we will run an edited repeat of our episode (first aired in June this year) dedicated to the music about Nelson Mandela by South Africans ourselves. But before we hear from Toby Tobias, we take a listen to the African National Congress Choir’s dedication to Nelson Mandela called Usilethela Uxolo, or Nelson Mandela Brings us Peace. Madiba certainly did and he will rest peacefully.

Sleep well Madiba. Thank you for everything. Hamba kakuhle. 

In this episode, we feature the music of:

• The Toby Tobias Ensemble
• Sipho Hotstix Mabuse
• The ANC Choir
• Hugh Masekela
• Abdullah Ibrahim
• Bright Blue
• Brenda Fassie
• Lucky Dube
• Vusi Mahlasela
• Savuka
• The Alexandra Youth Choir

If you enjoyed this show, there’s more in Part 2.

We would like to say thank you to Toby Tobias for that special introduction and for giving us his new song to play first as a dedication to Madiba. Find out more about Toby and his Ensemble at tobytoby.com.

You can find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TuneMeWhat

We really appreciate your feedback. We’re always open to suggestions and even requests! If you’re a South African musician living or touring internationally, do let us know about your concerts, album releases or tours – we’d love to give you a punt on the show. Our email address is yesno@tunemewhat.com

But most importantly, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends about Tune Me What?!

If you’d like to advertise on the show, drop us a line at adverts@tunemewhat.com

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In this, the penultimate episode of Tune Me What? for the year – Leon & Brett play some tracks from the artists, old and new, that they have discovered while doing the show. It goes to show that not only is the South African music scene an untapped reserve of amazing music, but it’s a renewable resource with an astonishing variety.

In this episode, we feature the music of:

• Rozanne Gewaar
• The Soul Brothers
• Jack Parow
• National Wake
• Third Ear Experience
• Freshlyground
• Simphiwe Dana
• Nakhane Toure
• Die Radio Kalahari Orkes
• Nico Carstens

And of course there’s more news in Gigs, Gossip & Grooves, including:

• National Wake (Punk in Africa)
• Adam Glasser

We really appreciate your feedback. We’re always open to suggestions and even requests! If you’re a South African musician living or touring internationally, do let us know about your concerts, album releases or tours – we’d love to give you a punt on the show. Our email address is yesno@tunemewhat.com But most importantly, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends about Tune Me What?! If you’d like to advertise on the show, drop us a line at adverts@tunemewhat.com

Trouble using the player? DOWNLOAD the show.

This past Wednesday was the United Nation’s “Universal Children’s Day”, so in celebration of this, we thought we’d do a special programme about some of the really great South African music for children. We’re joined by well-known community pre-school campaigner and educator, ‘Teacher Lee’, who brings in her box of records. She told us more about her work and a brilliant charity her mother back in South Africa – also a pre-school teacher – is involved in. So tune in and sing-along!

In this episode we feature music by:

• Sharon Katz
• Anne Ziegler & Webster Booth
• Betty Misheiker
• Nick Taylor
• Wendy Fine
• Judy Irwig
• Vusi Mahlasela
• Uz Adibalz an Fings (Annabel Linder, Erica Rogers & Mel Miller)
• Busi Mhlongo
• Ed Jordan and Alan Glass
• Wendy Oldfield
• Soweto String Quartet

Here is a short documentary produced by Kaelo Stories of Hope about the Baobab project.

To find out more about Teacher Lee ‘Play To Learn’ visit their website here.

Wendy Fine and Judy Irwig – who we featured in the show – have a great online store for their music.

We really appreciate your feedback. We’re always open to suggestions and even requests! If you’re a South African musician living or touring internationally, do let us know about your concerts, album releases or tours – we’d love to give you a punt on the show. Our email address is yesno@tunemewhat.com But most importantly, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends about Tune Me What?! If you’d like to advertise on the show, drop us a line at adverts@tunemewhat.com

Trouble using the player? DOWNLOAD the show.

Today we play some tracks from some of South Africa’s top musical families, so join us as Tune Me What gets in the family way and positively bulging with a bundle of joyful music!

In this episode we feature the music of:

• Johnny Clegg
• Jesse Clegg
• John Kongos
• The Kongos
• Abdullah Ibrahim
• Sathima Bea Benjamin
• Jean Grae
• Blues Broers
• Baxtop
• Tribe After Tribe
• Brenda Fassie
• Bongani Fassie

And of course there’s more news in Gigs, Gossip & Grooves, including:

• Spoek Mathambo

More video? Why not watch the Baxtop Reunion in 1999 or our GGG guy Evan jamming with Robbi Robb of Tribe After Tribe.

We really appreciate your feedback. We’re always open to suggestions and even requests! If you’re a South African musician living or touring internationally, do let us know about your concerts, album releases or tours – we’d love to give you a punt on the show. Our email address is yesno@tunemewhat.com But most importantly, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends about Tune Me What?! If you’d like to advertise on the show, drop us a line at adverts@tunemewhat.com

Trouble using the player? DOWNLOAD the show.

This week we get laid back with some tunes that have the funk and the chill and the cool, so relax with Tune Me What for another hour of first-rate South African music.

In this episode we feature the music of:

•  Springbok Nude Girls
• Soul Brothers
• Letta Mbulu
• John Kongos
• Max Normal
• Mr Gelatine
• Kalahari Surfers
• Lconville
• Syd Kitchen
• Erik Windrich
• Penny Penny
• Amampondo

And of course there’s more news in Gigs, Gossip & Grooves, including:

• Sharon Katz and The Peace Train
• Johnny Clegg

We really appreciate your feedback. We’re always open to suggestions and even requests! If you’re a South African musician living or touring internationally, do let us know about your concerts, album releases or tours – we’d love to give you a punt on the show. Our email address is yesno@tunemewhat.com But most importantly, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends about Tune Me What?! If you’d like to advertise on the show, drop us a line at adverts@tunemewhat.com

Trouble using the player? DOWNLOAD the show.

We have a very special guest in today’s show – Sharon Katz of The Peace Train! Sharon and her musician friends took a train around South Africa in 1993 ahead of the first democratic elections to educate voters and build community.  Now based in the US, she still tours with the Peace Train spreading the same healing message.

She joins us in our virtual studio for a chat and plays some of her favourite CDs and shares some of The Peace Train’s own music.

In this episode we feature the music of:

• Sharon Katz and The Peace Train
• Miriam Makeba
• Brenda Fassie
• Busi Mhlongo
• Dolly Rathebe
• Abdulla Ibrahim

And of course there’s more news in Gigs, Gossip & Grooves, including:

• Dan Patlansky
• Sharon Katz and The Peace Train
• Vusi Mahlesela at Binghamton University
• Vusi Mahlesela at Fairfield University

We really appreciate your feedback. We’re always open to suggestions and even requests! If you’re a South African musician living or touring internationally, do let us know about your concerts, album releases or tours – we’d love to give you a punt on the show. Our email address is yesno@tunemewhat.com But most importantly, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends about Tune Me What?! If you’d like to advertise on the show, drop us a line at adverts@tunemewhat.com

Trouble using the player? DOWNLOAD the show.

In this episode, Brett bends Leon’s ear about some the bands whose paths he crossed in the late 90s while on the road with One Large Banana. Touring with a band was not only an opportunity to play your music but also to watch some great musicians at shows and festivals on the circuit around South Africa.

In this episode we feature:

• Amersham
• The Springbok Nude Girls
• Squeal
• One Large Banana
• Valiant Swart
• Sons of Trout
• Dorp
• Famous Curtain Trick
• The Blues Broers
• Wonderboom
• The Honeymoon Suites

Here are the links to some of the stories we covered in Gigs, Gossip & Grooves:

• Spoek Mathambo
• Johnny Clegg
• Ivan Kadey (of National Wake)
• James Stewart (of The Usual)

We really appreciate your feedback. We’re always open to suggestions and even requests! If you’re a South African musician living or touring internationally, do let us know about your concerts, album releases or tours – we’d love to give you a punt on the show. Our email address is yesno@tunemewhat.com But most importantly, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends about Tune Me What?! If you’d like to advertise on the show, drop us a line at adverts@tunemewhat.com

Trouble using the player? DOWNLOAD the show.

In this bumper edition of Tune Me What?, Leon & Brett speak to Ivor Haarburger, the South African music industry pioneer and former head of Gallo Records. The conversation covers the history of Gallo, some of the great artists Ivor has worked with, the current state of the industry and the impact of technology.  We also have time to spin some fantastic records, several of which Ivor has a personal connection to.

Ivor Haarburger is now the CEO of Content Music Services which provides consulting to the industry and content to mobile and broadcasters.

In this episodes we feature the music of:

• West Nkosi
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo
• Lucky Dube
• Dolly Parton (feat. LBM)
• Paul Simon (feat. LBM)
• Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse
• The Parlotones
• PJ Powers and Hotline
• Steve Kekana
• Nakhane Toure
• Simphiwe Dana

And of course there’s more news in Gigs, Gossip & Grooves, including:

• South African College of Music featuring Aviva Pelham
• Dan Patlansky
• Jeremy Loops

We really appreciate your feedback. We’re always open to suggestions and even requests! If you’re a South African musician living or touring internationally, do let us know about your concerts, album releases or tours – we’d love to give you a punt on the show. Our email address is yesno@tunemewhat.com But most importantly, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends about Tune Me What?! If you’d like to advertise on the show, drop us a line at adverts@tunemewhat.com

Trouble using the player? DOWNLOAD the show.