The Victoria Harbour Sundowner Session #16
Bakithi Khumalo on ‘You can call me Al’ (Paul Simon’s African Concert)
SOUTH AFRICAN composer, vocalist, and bassist Bakithi Kumalo was born in the Alexandria Township of Johannesburg.
Abandoned by his father as a toddler, he was raised by his mother, who was a singer, and his family in nearby Soweto. He was exposed to local musical styles such as mbaqanga (a groove peculiar to the townships), mbube (a cappella vocal music), and jive (electric, urban pop) while he was very young.
At an early age, he decided to become a musician and at seven, was already performing in his uncle’s band.
Due to his persistence, he quickly became a regular on the wedding and party circuit around the township. At ten, he went on a tour into Zululand where he remained for a year and a half. During that time, he practiced the bass tirelessly. It was at this time that he developed his unique approach to bass playing.
With a reputation as a prodigy now established, Bakithi started to get recording session work, but the record companies were exploitative (he was paid as little as $2.50 per side) and money remained scarce. He did any work he could do to get by, including selling newspapers. As an only child, he felt a profound sense of responsibility towards his mother, but never doubted that he would someday become a famous musician and would be able to take good care of her.
In addition to economic hardships, Bakithi was also dealing with an oppressive political system, Under Apartheid, the police could commit any atrocities they pleased against people of color and never be held accountable. When Bakithi had a recording session in the city proper, he had to carry papers that authorized his presence in town. Without them, he would have risked arrest and detainment.
Bakithi’s fame grew, but his musical career was still a terrible struggle and he was seriously considering taking a job as a car mechanic at the time Paul Simon came calling in 1985.
Simon was in South Africa to assemble a band for his “Graceland” album. A well-known Johannesburg producer suggested Bakithi for his unique ability. Simon was entranced by his sound and, after some preliminary sessions in South Africa, he flew Bakithi to New York City to complete the tracks.
Bakithi was both thrilled and terrified to be in New York City. He had always longed to go to New York, but he barely spoke English and was understandably overwhelmed by this sudden dramatic change in fortune. However, his misgivings did not affect his playing and his indelible contributions to the Grammy-winning “Graceland” album gave him major visibility in the American music industry.
He found himself in much demand for recordings and tours with many great artists such as Chaka Khan, Harry Belafonte, Cyndi Lauper, Laurie Anderson, Jon Secada, and Gloria Estefan.
Today, Bakithi has put down roots in Brooklyn with his wife, singer Robbi Hall, and two children. They went to the new South Africa during 1997, and again in 1998 where Bakithi and Robbi performed at the Capetown Jazz Festival with Regina Carter, Carl Anderson and Donald Harrison. Having been in South Africa as a free man, Bakithi is relieved that his people will never suffer the oppression of apartheid again. The Kumalos are planning to keep a home on both continents.
(Source: Music.org.za)
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Howzit-HongKong.com will feature a YouTube clip of one South African music legend every Friday as part of what we like to call The Victoria Harbour Sundowner Sessions. I am fortunate to be living right next to one of the most stunning working harbours in the world… Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. I often find myself staring across the Harbour at night, with the lights dimmed and one of my favourite musicians from home over the speakers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do…
Goodnight South Africa,
Mike Jansen
