Gumba Fire

In 1980s black South Africa a local form of pop music evolved as the disco boom died down and slowly mutated. It was often ubiquitously described as Bubblegum - usually stripped-down and lo-fi with a predominance of synths, keyboards and drum-machines and overlaid with the kind of deeply soulful trademark vocals and harmonies that South African music is famous for. Compilers Miles Cleret (Soundway) and DJ Okapi (Afrosynth Records) present a selection of 16 rare, handpicked 1980s cuts that highlight the period that nestles in between the ‘70s (where American-influenced jazz, funk and soul bumped shoulders with local Mbaqanga) and the ‘90s when Kwaito and eventually house-music ruled the dancefloors of urban South Africa.

Hot off the heels of the recent Gumba Fire compilation, Soundway selects more sure-fire disco burners: with a 4-track, dancefloor-orientated EP drawing from the short-lived Heads label out of South Africa. Gumba Fire, compiled by DJ Okapi and Soundway label founder Miles Cleret, already looks to match its 2016 sister release Doing It In Lagos, garnering significant interest from the DJ and music community.