Destiny and Sawubona magazine featuring African Creams’ latest releases in their February edition.

sama nomination

African Cream Kidz has done it again! We are thrilled to announce that Singalong Kidz Volume 2 took home the prize for Best Kiddies Album for the third time at the prestigious SAMA awards ceremony on Monday 29th April 2012.
This award follows previous SAMAs for its predecessor Singalong Kidz Volume 1 (2009); Gcina Mhlophe Presents: Songs & Stories of Africa (2010) and a nomination for In the Womb (2011). Each album in the range is packed full of homegrown, original music and charming tales by some of South Africa’s best storytellers and musicians.
Renowned songwriter/musician Wendy Oldfield is the producer of In the Womb as well as Singalong Kidz 1 & 2. Oldfield says, “This second award shows that kids love what we’re making.”
As always, the South African themes in Oldfield’s music are strong and she uses indigenous instruments and different vernaculars in the songs. “It’s very important that the tunes are cross-cultural and represent the diversity in our country.” The focus is on simple melodies, fun, catchy lyrics and relevant subjects.
CEO of African Cream Music Alex Agulnik says, “Since entering the market, our ACM Kidz imprint has captured the hearts of children nationwide and taken the kid’s music market by storm. Music is a gift that keeps on giving no matter what age your child is. This latest award means that we’ve hit onto a winning formula.”

FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND INFO ON ARTISTS AND AWARDS VISIT THE MTN SAMA AWARD SITE:

http://samusicawards.co.za/

Finally, we have added a much-needed reggae album to the catalogue.

The music and message of Jamaican artists such as Peter
Tosh, Bob Marley, Don Carlos and Jimmy Cliff reached
Africa in the 70s and from then on inspired and influenced
a host of African musicians and artists. Reggae had come
back to its roots! Reggae would fuel the fire and inspire
the voice of the struggle for freedom in Africa. A
soundtrack to the fight against colonial rule and racial discrimination. A soundtrack to life!

“Reggae is not just one message. It is a lot of messages to different people in different situations – reggae is relevant to their situation. For me in South Africa during apartheid it was Peter Tosh.
He said ‘Africa is the richest place, but it has the poorest race.’ Sadly, that is
still true,” said the late, great South African reggae star Lucky Dube.
The Reggae seed is replanted in the African soil. New African reggae has branched out to
spread the message of peace, love and unity all over the world.

TRACKLISTING
1. Lucky Dube – Victims
2. Black Dillinger – From A Place
3. Hudson Zitha – Khanimambo
4. Harley and the Rasta Family – The Lord Is My Rock
5. Azania Band feat. members of Brooklyn Funk Essentials – Said and Done
6. Ras Sheehama – Kings Music
7. Tshimangadzo Dr I & I – Kondelelani
8. Veli shabangu feat. Jabu khanyile & Blondie Makhene – Can’t Stop a Man
9. Badda Badda – African Holiday
10. Roots Music Collective, featuring Thutukani Cele – Not Gonna Give It Up
11. 340 ml – Kubrick
12. The Slaves – Uzizi
13. Sipho Dube – Bomme Ba Afrika
14. Sun Glen & The Wizard – Poverty
15. Brand New Second Hand feat. Andrew Tosh – Slave

After nine years with the band Skipper joined the late reggae master Lucky Dube’s band in 1995 as the lead guitarist and featured on numerous albums such as Taxman, The way it is’, Soultaker and Respect’. A natural on the stage, through his discipline and hardworking reputation, Skipper assumed the role of the band leader and toured the world with Lucky Dube sharing the stage with musical giants like Michael Jackson, Burning Spear, UB40, Peter Gabriel, Shaggy and Ziggy Marley. He has also worked with talents such as Mr Caiphu, Mama Leta Mbulu, Siphokazi and Eddy Grant.

In 2000, together with the three other talented musicians, Skipper formed an Afro traditional group Khumbula with Skipper as lead guitarist, lead vocalist and band leader. Khumbula burst onto the South African music scene with their debut album Bayakhuluma and immediately established themselves as major players on the local airwaves. To prove they were no one-album-wonder, they followed this up a year later with their powerful second album Khetha (Choose).

The multi-talented musician’s popular Afro-beat style is a unique combination of traditional Maskanda guitar rhythms in conjunction with astounding vocal interplay, all with an exotic, delicate North African ingredient. The music shows deep respect to the traditions that Skipper grew up with, while their vocal arrangements and other eclectic touches keep the music fresh and relevant to the new generation of fans of contemporary local music.

Now, Skipper’s releases his very first long awaited solo album, Bekezela (Persevere). He explains, “The fusion of different music elements with my Zulu traditional way of singing resulting in a fresh sound. Each song brings its own meaning to the album.”

The album combines top- notch song writing melded with a unique but smooth and highly listenable style of African music. Anyone into contemporary music, traditional fusion/jazz, Afro – fusion and of course Maskandi music will jus have to add this sublime album to their collection.

African Cream Music is thrilled to announce that two of their albums have been nominated for the prestigious SAMA 2011 awards.

The MTN SAMA awards will be held over the weekend of the 20th and 21st May

The sounds that babies hear while inside the womb is their very first sensory experience of the world outside. There is growing evidence that playing music to your baby in utero has many benefits including relaxation, bonding as well as emotional and intellectual development. In fact, your baby will remember the music that you play even after birth.

Wendy became a household name with rock outfit The Sweatband in the early 80′s. After much success, she left the group to start a solo career which has since won her accolades, critical acclaim and multiple awards.

Following on from the success of the SAMA 2009 award-winning children’s album Singalong Kids, Wendy now brings us another brilliant and innovative homegrown album as part of the renowned African Cream Kidz range-soothing music to play to your child before they’re born.

Wendy says, “As a mother of three, while pregnant, I experienced many different moods and emotional phases, yet at the same time, I felt very grounded and powerful. Even though I wanted some quiet and relaxation, I also needed to move and dance to uplifting sounds that resonated within me. This album started out as a soundtrack to the journey of pregnancy. It became an ongoing expression of joy and light.” This guided Wendy towards a strong, moving and peaceful sound with a distinct African feel.

Both mothers and their unborn child will respond to the use of organic instruments with deep vibrational timbres such as the didgeridoo, kora, and mbira combined with energised chanting and harmonious rhythms. During the sacred time of carrying a child, soothe and stimulate yourself and the baby growing inside you with these gentle melodies created especially for moms-to-be and their tummies.

Best Adult Contemporary Album- African

Bekezela – Skipper Shabalala

Industry veteran and stalwart of the South African music scene, Skipper Shabalala has over 20 years experience as a professional musician who has spanned various genres of music. In 1986, he formed the popular group Zasha which produced the hit track Bricka Bhova and performed as the backing group for top acts like Kamazu, Ali Kat, Chicco and Rebecca Malope.

After nine years with the band Skipper joined the late reggae master Lucky Dube’s band in 1995 as the lead guitarist and featured on numerous albums such as Taxman, The way it is’, Soultaker and Respect’. A natural on the stage, through his discipline and hardworking reputation, Skipper assumed the role of the band leader and toured the world with Lucky Dube sharing the stage with musical giants like Michael Jackson, Burning Spear, UB40, Peter Gabriel, Shaggy and Ziggy Marley. He has also worked with talents such as Mr Caiphu, Mama Leta Mbulu, Siphokazi and Eddy Grant.

In 2000, together with the three other talented musicians, Skipper formed an Afro traditional group Khumbula with Skipper as lead guitarist, lead vocalist and band leader. Khumbula burst onto the South African music scene with their debut album Bayakhuluma and immediately established themselves as major players on the local airwaves. To prove they were no one-album-wonder, they followed this up a year later with their powerful second album Khetha (Choose).

The multi-talented musician’s popular Afro-beat style is a unique combination of traditional Maskanda guitar rhythms in conjunction with astounding vocal interplay, all with an exotic, delicate North African ingredient. The music shows deep respect to the traditions that Skipper grew up with, while their vocal arrangements and other eclectic touches keep the music fresh and relevant to the new generation of fans of contemporary local music.

Now, Skipper’s releases his very first long awaited solo album, Bekezela (Persevere). He explains, “The fusion of different music elements with my Zulu traditional way of singing resulting in a fresh sound. Each song brings its own meaning to the album.”

The album combines top- notch song writing melded with a unique but smooth and highly listenable style of African music. Anyone into contemporary music, traditional fusion/jazz, Afro – fusion and of course Maskandi music will jus have to add this sublime album to their collection.