Jabula ( isiZulu: "rejoice") was a musical ensemble of South African musicians exiled in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

during the

Apartheid Apartheid ( , especially South African English: , ; , ) was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. It was characterised by an ...

era, led by Julian Bahula.

Background

The four musicians who became Jabula met in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, where they were living after leaving their native South Africa. The group was formed in 1974 and consisted of: * Julian Bahula – lead vocals (formerly of Philip Tabane's Malombo Jazzmen) * Ernest Mothle –

bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...

* Lucky Ranku –

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

and

percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...

* Eddie Tatane – percussion Between 1975 and 1982, Jabula released five albums. In addition to their own albums, the group also performed with

Mike Oldfield Michael Gordon Oldfield (born 15 May 1953) is an English retired musician, songwriter and producer best known for his debut studio album ''Tubular Bells'' (1973), which became an unexpected critical and commercial success. Though primarily a gu ...

for his albums ''

Ommadawn ''Ommadawn'' is the third studio album by English musician, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mike Oldfield, released on 7 November 1975 on Virgin Records. ''Ommadawn'' peaked at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, No. 74 in Canada, and No. 146 on ...

'' (1975), '' Incantations'' (1978), and '' Amarok'' (1990). On 21 July 1979, Jabula appeared at the Amandla Festival along with

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...

, Dick Gregory,

Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B singer and actress. She has been referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Godmother of Soul". LaBelle began ...

and

Eddie Palmieri Eddie Palmieri (born December 15, 1936) is an American Grammy Award-winning pianist, bandleader, musician, and composer of Corsican and Puerto Rican ancestry. He is the founder of the bands La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive. ...

, among others."Amandla: The Festival of Unity, 1979"
bobmarley.com. Their second album, '' Thunder into Our Hearts'' (1976), is dedicated to the trumpeter

Mongezi Feza Mongezi Feza (11 May 1945 – 14 December 1975) was a South African jazz trumpeter and flautist. Biography Feza was born in Queenstown, Cape Province, Union of South Africa, into a family of musicians, His elder brother, Sandi Feza, who ...

(1945–1975), with whom the group played in the run-up to its recording, but who had died.

Discography

*''Jabula'' (1975) *'' Thunder into Our Hearts'' (1976) *'' Jabula in Amsterdam'' (1978) *''Afrika Awake'' (1978) *''Jabula With Me'' (1982)

References

External links

* {{Authority control South African jazz ensembles 20th-century South African musicians Musical groups established in 1974 Musical groups disestablished in 1982 1974 establishments in South Africa 1982 disestablishments in South Africa