Various Artists: Gumba Fire - Bubblegum Soul & Synth-Boogie In 1980s South Africa (CD)

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.

The album takes its name from the band Ashiko’s track, Gumba Fire, that features on the compilation. The term is derived from gumba gumba, the term given to the booming speakers of the old spacegram radios that broadcast music into South Africa’s townships and villages. The phrase later evolved into Gumba Fire to refer to a hot party.

1. The Survivals – My Brother
2. Stimela – Mind Games
3. Hot Soul Singers – Hlala Nami
4. Zoom – Wayawaya
5. Ashiko – Gumba Fire (Madlakadlaka)
6. Monwa & Sun – Heartbeat
7. Ntombi Ndaba – Do You Trust Amajita?
8. The Black Five – Selallane
9. Starlight – Picnicing
10. Zasha – Hayi Ngodlame
11. Joshiba – Gloria *
12. Sibela – Africa
13. Condry Ziqubu – She’s Impossible
14. General Peter Maringa – Listen To Me
15. Zasha – Arrow Dub
16. Ozila – Wola Wola