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CMU Approved
Approved: Umoja
By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 21 March 2017
In the 1980s, amid the political unrest of Apartheid-era South Africa, a new musical genre began to develop. Called ‘bubblegum music’, its most influential act was Umoja, who came to define the escapist electronic pop sound.
“Bubblegum music was about escape”, says the band’s leader Alec Khaoli. “If you had grown up in South Africa at the time, there was nothing more in your life than oppression. It was even in your dreams. Anything that was a way out was welcome. When this music was playing everyone just wanted to dance, just have a good time”.
The group’s popularity grew, peaking with the release of their 1988 album ‘707’, from which every song went to number one in the South African singles chart. The record is now set to be re-issued by Awesome Tapes From Africa on 5 May. Listen to ‘Take Me Higher’ from the record here:
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