Jonas Gwangwa - Bringing Sounds and Memories from Exile Back Home

It is twelve years since Jonas Gwangwa returned home from 30 years in exile, and not a moment too soon.  This remarkable composer, arranger, bandleader and trombonist has regained his household name and consolidated his reputation as a formidable artist. Gwangwa has just released his latest offering, 'Sounds from Exile' that he co-produced with under-rated maestro guitarist Kenny Mathaba. 

Although Gwangwa has only been working in the country for the last 10 years, in many ways, it seems that he never left home. In the last decade he has written more than a dozen music scores and theme music for movies, television, corporations and commercials. These include film producer Mfundi Vundla’s 'Generations' and 'Soweto Green', Dali Tambo’s 'Night Moves,' The African-American Summit anthem and the ANC documentary 'Ulibambe Lingashoni', to name a few.
The highlight of this multi-award winning composer's musical career was his collaboration with George Fenton to create the original score and theme song of the much-heralded Richard Attenborough film, 'Cry Freedom', which was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Significantly, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Steve Biko, a Black Consciousness leader on whom the film focuses.  Gwangwa has always been recognized as a member of South Africa's jazz aristocracy, but it was in 1991 with the release of his mesmerizing and electrifying album, 'Flowers of the Nation', recorded in England that he burst into the consciousness of audiences worldwide.   

It was soon after the unbanning of several liberation movements that Gwangwa emerged from the shadows to put his explosive talent in the public eye.  His electrifying, infectious, danceable rhythms fused with African traditional jazz sounds alongside with urban influences and a dash of American traces was welcomed by eager audiences.  He has continued his tradition of playing with the best, something that he started in the 1960s when he was associated with legends like Kippie Moeketsi, Abdullah Ibrahim, Johnny Gertse and Makhaya Ntshoko.

For the last ten years Gwangwa’s expertise has been in great demand as various people commissioned him to work on special projects, impeding him from working on his own material.  "I have a whole suitcase full of material that I have brought with from exile and it is about time that I released it,"  comments Gwangwa.  It was only in 1999 that he was able to produce and release 'A Temporary Inconvenience', an album that helped to re-establish his reputation as one of the formidable jazz artists with a distinctive style.  Gwangwa immediately enjoyed a strong and loyal following.

The 15 years he spent in the United States represent an exciting period in Gwangwa's life. Through the patronage of musical legend Harry Belafonte, Jonas Gwangwa was afforded incredible opportunities to record and play with some of the U.S.'s legends "I have a spent an important part of my life in the United States and there is no way that I can wish away those years.The lasting impact of my experience was being affected by the music and cultural experiences which today are part of my musical elitism" he explains

During the exile years, South Africa's struggle for liberation figured largely in Gwangwa's music .
"For a long time I have believed that politics and culture cannot be separated; I channeled my energies to writing and performing for the love of my country," says Gwangwa.

With 'Songs from Exile', Gwangwa has concentrated on what he knows best: use music as a weapon to instill self-love and pride in African musical heritage.  There is no doubt that with this latest offering Gwangwa will inevitably be confirmed as one of the country’s most prolific composers, arranger and instrumentalist.  'Songs from Exile' is a 10-track album that is deeply infused with sounds of celebration, pride, joy, happiness and purpose.  The music is unmistakably South African, fused with indigenous influences but has a global appeal.

Gwangwa recruited some incredible  local talent to play with him on the project, amongst them   Mara Louw who features on ' Renaissance Song' a tribute to President Thabo Mbeki’s vision and dream of a unified and self-sufficient Africa.  This new album captures the mood of self-affirmation and celebration,  a theme that, coupled with the exellence of the musical offering, is sure to captivate jazz lovers everywhere..