Zolani on Freshlyground’s new song.
Zolani Mahola explains the meaning of her band Freshlyground’s much-talked-about new track, Banana Republic
HEAR the name Freshlyground and the song Doo Be Doo probably comes to mind – or perhaps memories of the velvet-voiced lead singer belting out the lyrics to the hit Pot Belly. Feel-good songs accompanied by multiple instruments have become the band’s chart-topping staple – until now.
Freshlyground’s latest single, Banana Republic, is a whole different story and it’s causing quite a stir in a country beset by controversy, corruption and crises.
The video for the song opens with an image of President Jacob Zuma throwing back his head and laughing.
It’s followed by pictures of other presidents in the spotlight, including America’s Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, accompanied by scenes of violent protests around South Africa.
Then Zolani Mahola (35) starts singing – and it’s powerful stuff. “All your people dying in freedom/Suffering a profound lack of leading/Are you even there when we call? Are you a human, man?/Full of lies! Can’t believe what I’m hearing/ From your lips a river of scheming/Poisoning all the water we’re drinking/ Are we good to go?”
The song’s forthright criticism of the president has been hailed as a complete 180-degree change from the band’s usual material – yet Zolani points out that the Afro-indie outfit’s offerings have often contained social commentary. Even 2004’s Doo Be Doo, released 10 years into democracy, was a reflection of a more hopeful time for the once bright and shining rainbow nation.
The inspiration for Banana Republic came from the state of governance, she says.
“The song came from people’s frustrations with what seems to be a lack of focus on the wellbeing of us, the people of South Africa.
“It seems our leaders are forgetting their mandates – which is to serve and protect our people.”
The song is hard-hitting and evocative and Zolani hopes it will get South Africans talking about where we are as a nation and where we want to be.
“I think it’s fair to say Banana Republic is a protest song,” she adds.
“We’re a country that’s rich in protest songs. The ANC has the hearts and minds of most South Africans. When many of the leaders were in exile, we received a lot of music from the exile
community and music was created here in South Africa to create socio-political change.
“Those protest songs were created out of a real need and real desperation and there was strength in them. It’s that strength we see in South Africans today.”
BANANA Republic was released on 27 April, Freedom Day – 13 years after Freshlyground performed at the opening of Parliament to celebrate a decade of democracy. There’s been some criticism of the track, Zolani says, “but I’d say 90 percent of the people are in agreement with the song”.
She’s unconcerned about the band not landing future engagements at Parliament or other state functions as a result of the track.
“We fell out of favour with the government a long time ago,” Zolani says. “We haven’t done a government gig in a long time. For a long time even Freshlyground was on that gravy train. But we aren’t any more and we aren’t worried.”
The band have also raised eyebrows with the reference to God as “she” in Banana Republic – “God alone She knows I have tried very hard”.
That, says Zolani, “wasn’t an attempt to scrutinise God’s gender” but a comment on patriarchy and the unquestioning acceptance of “facts”.
O“For me it’s so hard to divorce patriarchy from the situation,” she says. “We’re still governed in a very patriarchal system.
“But we can’t describe God. We can’t put God in a box. God isn’t a man; God isn’t a woman. That line questions the things that we accept as fact.
“The essence of this thing is that my dad grew up under a system where his manhood wasn’t acknowledged.
“When our leaders are proving themselves to be corrupt and there’s a blatant disregard of the laws they put in place, this song speaks for my father as well.” F COURSE there’s another side to Zolani, one far removed from political statements and musical creations. When she isn’t performing with her band she loves nothing more than to be at home with her husband, Nicholas Klemp, and their sons, Zazi (4) and Zenithande (1). “Married life is great,” the Cape Town-based singer says. “I’ve been with my partner since varsity – Nic’s such a great guy.”
Motherhood, she says, has changed her life too. “It’s made me a lot less selfish in one way and in another way it’s made me a lot more selfish.
“Less selfish in that I’m not just living for myself now, and more selfish in that I now realise the value of my personal time.”
Freshlyground, who’ve been around for 15 years, show no sign of slowing down. They’re working on a new album and have been gigging like crazy when they’re not in the studio.
“We don’t have a title for the new album yet,” Zolani says. “It’s a continuation of the last one [The Legend, released in 2013]. It’s a natural progression.
“In many ways it’s a reflection of what it is to be an African today in a global society.”
Zolani has also been preparing for her role in a new musical, Calling Me Home, which will have its premiere at the The Mandela Stage at the Joburg Theatre in August.
First up though is a trip to Maputo where Freshlyground will be one of the headline acts at the Azgo Festival on 20 May.
“We’re excited about playing at the Azgo. It’s an awesome festival. The crowd are always really warm and welcoming. We’ve played there before. You can always expect to see interesting acts from around the continent. What can be better?”
And Banana Republic will no doubt be on the setlist.
‘I think it’s fair to say Banana Republic is a protest song’