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National Wake
Walk In Africa 1979-81
Walk In Africa 1979-81
Light in the Attic Records | CAT #: LITA105
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KEY FEATURES
KEY FEATURES
- First ever anthology
- Remastered from original sources
- 2xLP housed in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket with 20-pg book, and download card full full anthology
- Scholarly liner notes by Punk In Africa film director Keith Jones
- Unseen photos, flyers, and band ephemera
- Vinyl cut by John Golden and pressed at RTI
DETAILS
DETAILS
ARTIST: National Wake
LABEL: Light in the Attic Records
CAT NO: LITA105
RELEASE DATE:
GENRE / STYLE:
- Rock
RELEASE DESCRIPTION
RELEASE DESCRIPTION
The South Africa of the late 1970s was neither the right place nor time to launch a mixed-race punk band. Yet, following the student-inspired Soweto Uprising of 1976, it was also exactly the right conditions to foster a band like National Wake, one formed in an underground commune, and one whose very name exists in protest at the divisive, racist apartheid regime. Never before collected together, Light In The Attic is set to release National Wake’s full body of work as Walk In Africa 1979-81.
Featured heavily in the recent documentary Punk In Africa, National Wake played punk, reggae, and tropical funk, equally at home in the city’s rock underground and the township nightclub circuit. Ivan Kadey started the band with two brothers, Gary and Punka Khoza. The three were from different worlds – while Ivan was an outsider, a Jewish orphan born in the traditional Johannesburg immigrant neighborhood, Gary, Punka, and their family were forcibly moved to the troubled township of Soweto under the apartheid regime. Later joined by guitarist Steve Moni, the whole band grew up against a backdrop of township unrest, social upheaval, and suburban tedium that characterized apartheid-era South Africa.
National Wake released just one album, in 1981. It sold approximately 700 copies before being withdrawn under government pressure. The band subsequently disintegrated, but their influence could be traced in the racially mixed post-punk underground centered around Rockey Street in Johannesburg throughout the 1980s, their legacy transmitted through fanzines and underground cassette trading.
Sadly, Gary and Punka Khoza both passed away in their 40s. Kadey now works as an architect in Los Angeles, but his attention eventually turned back to the band as their legacy grew in the digital era, with the emergence of specialized music websites and Punk In Africa leading to their rediscovery. Czech State Radio memorably described the band as “perhaps the most dissident music scene of the 20th century: a multi-racial punk band in a fascist police state.”
In 2011, Kadey re-released the band’s self-titled album on CD in South Africa, but spoke about having more than 20 tracks that had never seen the light of day – until now. “All of these recordings put together they speak of the whole evolution of the band,” he has said. “From a sort of naive, almost belief that we could miraculously change everything to realizing what a struggle it was, and what the country was going through and what it would go through.”
TRACKLIST
TRACKLIST
1. International News
2. It's All Right
3. Walk in Africa
4. Time and Place
5. Corner House Stone
6. Mercenaries
7. Wake of the Nation
8. Supaman
9. Speed It Up
10. Beat up the Lights
11. Black Punk Rockers
12. Stratocaster
13. Everybody
14. Vatsiketeni
LISTEN
LISTEN
CREDITS
CREDITS
ABOUT THE ARTIST
ABOUT THE ARTIST



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from 34 reviewsFor all fans, this is a must-buy. Especially hooked by the track Wind, which is the very first ending of the anime.
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This album sounds as good and hits as hard as it did when it was released! Extra fun getting it from Helix Sounds, they always have the best stuff :)

The vinyl in great condition got here when expected and sounds amazing
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fast service & quick response, Good+
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I got this for my husband as a gift and he really loved it. Great sound and beautiful color. I’m so glad I got this vinyl.

Beautiful vinyl. Good price. Came packaged well.

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Came exactly as described and in perfect condition, the best shipment service on vinyls I’ve ever had. Fast and accurate, I’ve had records ordered for almost a month with another store and these guys continually beat out all other stores for shipment. I just ordered again from them, highly recommend.
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The album arrived well packaged, in impeccable condition. Love the service. Love this album!

Great shop, I can only recommend it.

I finally received it. It came well packaged and secure. The customer assistance was great and helpful with my queries.

honestly i was very happy to have this poster come in, and imma buy a frame for it later. the poster is really beautiful and i love it, there was a slight defect to it, no fault to the company, but the mailing service itself, but it doesnt really bother me at all since it’s barely noticeable, i am just so happy to own it!!
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Beautiful packaging and lovely sonic excursions abound from this vinyl. Thank you !̦ Helix.
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