National Wake was a punk rock band in South Africa in the late 1970s that emerged from a series of jam sessions in an underground commune. They were notable for being a multiracial band in protest of the apartheid regime in South Africa.
History
Ivan Kadey, an architecture student in Johannesburg at the time, formed the band with brothers Gary and Punka Khoza. Ivan Kadey was a Jewish orphan born in
Johannesburg. Gary, Punka, and their family were forcibly moved to
Soweto township under the policy of apartheid. The band was later joined by guitarist Steve Moni.
National Wake were formed in 1978, two years after the student inspired Soweto uprising.
National Wake is covered in the Punk in Africa documentary.
Style
National Wake played punk, reggae, and tropical funk, but also incorporating two-tone ska and African rhythms. The band's signature tune "International News" decries state censorship and the atrocities of the Angolan War of Independence.
National Wake's existence was a subversive threat to the South African status quo, a policeman cynically suggested that they could make more money as a band playing in exile. The music has a hint of third wave ska with influences of
the Clash.
Czech Radio described the band as "perhaps the most dissident music scene of the 20th century: a multi-racial punk band in a fascist police state".
Members
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Ivan Kadey - Guitar and vocals
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Gary Khoza - Bass guitar
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Punka Khoza - Drummer
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Steve Moni - Guitar
Discography
Studio albums
Compilations
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Walk in Africa 1979-81 (2013)
