![Letta Mbulu on South African artists:
“I think artists in South Afrika find it difficult to focus on themselves. At the same time we have SABC that is constantly bombarding young artists of this country with stuff from outside. We went through it ourselves but there was a consciousness at the time, you know, the Manhattan Brothers, The Woodpeckers who were very influential in making sure that we do not stray too far. I think, when we left there was a huge void and young artists started thinking that what is being played on TV, on radio is what they need to do and unfortunately we don’t have schools in South Afrika that teach young artists, those who aspire to be artists so that they can be able to control their own destiny. They are not skilled. They just do it because there is that strong feeling; the spirit of being an artist. You do not have the tools that take you to another level. I really believe that SABC needs to play a very important role but then they are not going to do it until the people of this country stand up and say, “We are tired. Enough is enough. We want our own music on the radio stations.” That is what happens all over the United States; you hear their music. They will play you because they think you are good. You are a novelty to them. I still remember when Hugh Masekela came up with a hit record called ‘Grazing In the Grass’, there were a lot of producers who said “Who the hell is Hugh Masekela to have a hit record in the United States of America” but it did happen because people loved it. Then there was a problem; they realised [that] “if we allow Afrikan artists to come here and dominate our airwaves, we are going to have a problem.” And rightfully so! We understand that. That is what we need to do here.”
Extract from - WHAT’S WRONG WITH GROOVIN’?: AN INTERVIEW WITH LETTA MBULU](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5t3svLyyU1qzn03io1_500.jpg)
Letta Mbulu on South African artists:
“I think artists in South Afrika find it difficult to focus on themselves. At the same time we have SABC that is constantly bombarding young artists of this country with stuff from outside. We went through it ourselves but there was a consciousness at the time, you know, the Manhattan Brothers, The Woodpeckers who were very influential in making sure that we do not stray too far. I think, when we left there was a huge void and young artists started thinking that what is being played on TV, on radio is what they need to do and unfortunately we don’t have schools in South Afrika that teach young artists, those who aspire to be artists so that they can be able to control their own destiny. They are not skilled. They just do it because there is that strong feeling; the spirit of being an artist. You do not have the tools that take you to another level. I really believe that SABC needs to play a very important role but then they are not going to do it until the people of this country stand up and say, “We are tired. Enough is enough. We want our own music on the radio stations.” That is what happens all over the United States; you hear their music. They will play you because they think you are good. You are a novelty to them. I still remember when Hugh Masekela came up with a hit record called ‘Grazing In the Grass’, there were a lot of producers who said “Who the hell is Hugh Masekela to have a hit record in the United States of America” but it did happen because people loved it. Then there was a problem; they realised [that] “if we allow Afrikan artists to come here and dominate our airwaves, we are going to have a problem.” And rightfully so! We understand that. That is what we need to do here.”
Extract from - WHAT’S WRONG WITH GROOVIN’?: AN INTERVIEW WITH LETTA MBULU
