As I may have mentioned, the royalty payments he received from Matsuli are ten times what he received back when the records were originally released. Johnny was amazed and so happy for the music to be reissued. WTM – What was the reaction of Batsmi’s Johnny Mothopeng when seeing his work brought to the light for a new audience? I also discovered the documentary Life and Death in Soweto that focuses on the Batsumi bassist, Zulu Bidi. It must have been in 2010 when I first got a copy of the South African issued Batsumi compilation and then a bit later I found a copy of the debut album.

The master tapes were acquired by Rashid Vally through whom I have licensed a number of reissues. I first heard Batsumi on a compilation called Ouelele, put out by the French label Comet. WTM – When did you first hear the band Batsumi? Their releases include Batsumi’s seminal spiritual jazz albums, Sathima Bea Benjamin’s African Songbird LP (with Dollar Brand), Dick Choza’s Chapita LP and most recently Ndikho Xaba’s holy grail, Ndikho Xaba and the Natives. Chris Albertyn, Sathima Bea Benjamin, Matt Temple Together with Chris Albertyn, Matt has brought some amazing music to a new audience, igniting a huge interest in South African music at present among collectors.

World Treasures Music spoke to Matt Temple from Matsuli Music – a specialist label reissuing priceless vinyl from South Africa. Scroll down for more about music from places across Southern Africa…

Township music south africa