Skinflint is a
heavy metal band from
Gaborone, Botswana
Gaborone ( , , ) is the capital and largest city of Botswana, with a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its metropolitan area is home to 534,842 inhabitants at the 2022 census.
Gabo ...
. They have incorporated elements from African culture into heavy metal music, attracting the attention of international media.
Their releases, ''Iklwa'',
''Gauna''
and ''Dipoko'',
pay homage to ancestral beliefs and African spirituality,
while the band still plays in the vein of
traditional heavy metal
Heavy metal (or simply metal) is a Music genre, genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and United States. With roots in blues rock, psychedelic rock and acid rock, heavy metal band ...
.
Band history
Formation (2006)
Skinflint was founded by lead guitarist and vocalist Giuseppe Sbrana
in 2006. He recruited Kebonye Nkoloso
on bass guitar and Alessandra Sbrana
on drums.
Skinflint's music mixes elements of local traditional music with heavy metal,
inspired by
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris (musician), Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most ...
and
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. After adopting the Black Sabbath name in 1969 (the band ...
.
Line-up change: the Iklwa era (2007–2011)
Drummer Alessandra Sbrana parted ways with Skinflint in 2007, and was replaced by Mothusi Mahuri.
The band then began writing ''Massive Destruction'', which was released on 6 June 2009.
The album was never distributed outside of Botswana. In 2010 the band recorded their second album, ''Iklwa'', and later launched the album at the Whiplash Metal festival in
Cape Town
Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
on 11 December 2010.
''Iklwa'' was distributed by Legion of Death records and later by Pure Steel Records.
Gauna era (2011–2012)
The band produced a 7-inch EP titled ''Gauna''
with Legion of Death records, featuring three exclusive songs, "Mantis Skull", "Bloody Gqokli", and "Gauna".
The release also included a live version of the song "Iklwa", as a bonus track.
In 2012, the band was interviewed by
Errol Barnett
Errol Barnett (born 3 April 1983) is a broadcaster on American television. He is an anchor and national correspondent for CBS News based in New York City. He anchors the ''CBS Morning News'' solo''.'' Previously he covered the Trump administra ...
of
CNN
Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational news organization operating, most notably, a website and a TV channel headquartered in Atlanta. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable ne ...
and performed the title track, "Gauna", live for CNN's ''Inside Africa'' after the interview.
Dipoko era (2012–present)
Mothusi Mahuri parted ways with Skinflint, and Alessandra Sbrana returned to the helm for drum duties.
The band began recording ''Dipoko'' and launched the album at the Nairobi Rock fest on 8 December 2012, in
Nairobi
Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...
,
Kenya
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
.
In July 2013 ''Dipoko'' was re-released through Pure Steel Records,
and the band embarked on their first European tour.
Upon their return, the band was interviewed by Mark Tutton,
where Giuseppe Sbrana discussed the expansion, and interest in the African metal scene. In 2019, Sbrana would leave the band for a second time. Her replacement was Cosmos Modisaemang.
Band members
Current members
*Giuseppe Sbrana - guitars, lead vocals (2006–present)
*Kebonye Nkoloso - bass, backing vocals (2006–present)
*Cosmos Modisaemang - drums (2019–present)
Past members
*Alessandra Sbrana - drums (2006–2007, 2012–2019)
*Mothusi Mahuri - drums (2007–2012)
Timeline
Discography
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skinflint
2006 establishments in Botswana
Botswana heavy metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 2006
Musical trios
Black rock musicians