2004 | Tribute To The Gugulethu 7 (feat. Azania Band) | Imperial House | CD
Gugulethu, meaning “our pride” in Xhosa, stands as one of South Africa’s oldest black townships. Established in 1958 during the apartheid era, it was born out of the migrant labor system. As the influx of workers from the Transkei grew and nearby Langa became overcrowded, Gugulethu expanded to accommodate them. Men were housed in hostels divided into zones, where three individuals shared a cramped single room. These hostels were strictly male-only—wives and families were left behind in the Transkei and Ciskei homelands.
Life in Gugulethu under apartheid was marked by poverty, oppression, and severe overcrowding. Schools were underfunded and ill-equipped, while homes lacked basic amenities like electricity and plumbing well into the 1980s. A tragic chapter unfolded on 3 March 1986, when seven young men were ambushed by police at a roadblock on NY-1 Street. They had left for work that morning and never returned. That evening, their lifeless bodies appeared on television, labeled as terrorists allegedly involved in a shootout with the South African Police. Their grieving mothers watched in horror as their sons were dragged across the ground for the world to see. Known as the Gugulethu Seven, their deaths remain one of the most harrowing examples of apartheid-era brutality.
All seven men were Rastafarians with a deep love for reggae music. In their memory, Vivian Jones and the South African Azania Band created a powerful tribute album infused with consciousness and heart. The result is a stirring collection of songs that honors their legacy through music.
Standout performances on this album include the powerful reality anthem Warrior, the uplifting Live Up Now, and the soulful African Daughter, all masterfully delivered by Vivian Jones. Equally compelling are Black Dillinjah’s commanding King Pharaoh, Ras Judah Xhalisa’s spirited Rastafari Is Great, and the dynamic collaboration Dongen featuring Vivian Jones & Ras Thabo. The feel-good energy continues with Brighter Days, a vibrant duet by Vivian Jones & Ras Vuyo.
With every track recorded at Ghetto Sound Recording Studio in Gugulethu, Cape Town, this album offers a rich and conscious reggae experience. From start to finish, the collection delivers solid, heartfelt tunes that make it well worth a listen.