Given the recent official release of Penny Penny's Shaka Bundu by Awesome Tapes from Africa I couldn't resist posting this tape by Senyaka. The title tune was a massive hit for Senyaka and could be heard all over the airwaves, taxi's and shebeens back in 1993.
Senyaka's 1986 track African Rap was a forerunner of the then nascent genre Kwaito. Sometimes the ideas were better than the execution, however with this release he sealed his position in kwaito folklore with Ma-Gents, a massive "diss" tune - aimed at Brenda Fassie and her drug habit. You can hear Brenda's partial response on this youtube clip
Senyaka went to to collaborate with a number of kwaito artists including Kamazu whose track Korobela also struck big. As the Hunger Boyz, Senyaka and Kamazu had a further hit with the controversial but topical Fong Kong - a commentary on cheap Chinese goods being dumped into the South African market. Fong Kong has now entered the South African lexicon to mean anything fake.
Senyaka - Ma-Gents (BMG L4 BSP Cassette, 1993)
1. Ma-Gents
2. Bayanyoyoba
3. Kumakhaza
4. Groove
5. Bhek'indaba Zakho
6. Mercy
7. Dali'wami
8. Ma-Gents Dub Mix
ENJOY: RS / MF
