Music
The oral history of Durban Kwaito Music
A look at the history of the genre through one of its most central figures – Dj Tira
Dj Tira has a humility that can easily be misread as aloofness. The man born as Mthokozisi Khathi is reluctant to speak about his achievements, focusing rather on the achievements of the artists he’s birthed or the city that produced them. “I don’t like blowing my own horn,” he says. He waits a bit, hands in air, waiting for the words to materialize, before reluctantly saying: “But if you’re pushing me for an answer, I’d say Afrotainment. I’m really happy with the label’s success.”
Founded in 2007, Afrotainment is not so much a record label as it a cultural movement. The label has produced Dj Cndo, Dj Fisherman and of course, Big Nuz (the group that has become synonymous with Durban Kwaito). Through his label, Tira has managed to take the regional sound of Durban Kwaito (with its high energy and hyperspecific idiom) and export it to clubs all around the country. Who doesn’t remember losing their shit to Big Nuz’s Ubala? Or Dj Cndo’s Seducer?
Tira
© Tyrone Bradley / Red Bull Content Pool
Year in, year out, Tira continues to strike gold. But to speak of his success means tracking a career that spans over two decades and is punctuated with late night studio sessions, 25 hour days and a little bit of good fortune.
Genesis: the birth of Dj Tira and Durban’s Finest
Tira bought his first vinyl in 1996. “I had a small sound system and I’d just taught myself how to man the decks. So I literally just started DJing and hosting events in every corner of KZN so I could get my name out there.”
It would only be four years later that his big break would come knocking. In 2000 and 2001, he won Smirnoff SA’s DJ Knockout competition, which came with a ticket to party central, Ibiza and the chance to play for an international audience.
Anyone whose been following Tira knows what happens next. “Around 2002, I met Dj Sox. We started hosting events together and our main focus was bringing some of Joburg’s biggest names to Durban. Guy’s like Fresh, Oskido… we used to host them at our events.” This would eventually lead to the birth of Durban’s Finest – a duo that represented Durban’s house scene and the promise of good things to come.
One of Durban's favourite sons
© Tyrone Bradley / Red Bull Content Pool
The Midpoint: Durban kwaito and Afrotainment are born
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine anything like this happening
“I mean it’s like, if you were to ask gqom’s central figures what they make of the genre’s success, they’ll tell you they didn’t expect it to become what it currently is. The same goes for Durban Kwaito – none of us had any idea.”
When Dj Tira started Afrotainment in 2007, he was, in essence, birthing a genre. “I just wanted to make good music; I had no lofty ambitions at the time. Dj Cndo and Big Nuz were among the first group of artists I signed. Cndo’s album went gold and Big Nuz…” he stops and frames the air with his hands as if to measure the impact. “Well, you know how they turned out.”
For the unacquainted here’s “how Big Nuz turned out”. Since releasing their runaway second album 2nd Round Knockout, the group has produced hits and collected awards with the regularity of a ticking clock. They’ve won best at the Metro FM awards, album of the year at the SAMA’s as well as the coveted record of the year for Umlilo in 2010. But more than that, the group’s music has come to typify everything Durban kwaito is: a mixture of electro-tech with Durban references and a universal appeal.
He recalls the making of some of Afrotainment’s biggest songs quite vividly.
“In the case of Umlilo I found Dj Fisherman and Mamphintsha at work with the song, so I assisted with the arrangement. Happy Song is a bit different. That was written in my bedroom. I told the guys ‘let’s just be happy’ and make a happy song…and that was the result.
Every hit we’ve made has been spontaneous. Remember Daddy by Cndo? We made that at 4AM. Chilli M just popped into the studio in the early hours of the morning because he knows that’s where we always are and a hit was born. Same story with Amerido.”
So what’s the secret to success been?
“I don’t want to be framed as the guy who single-handedly created Durban kwaito. That’s not how it happened. It’s all down to the talent that’s behind the mic. There are guys like Tzozo and Proffessor, Big Nuz, Lvovo, Cndo. The key to the genre’s success has been the artists’ hard work. All the guys I’ve mentioned basically live in studio. I could call them at three in the morning and they’re ready to record.”
The future of Durban Kwaito and Afrotainment
Last year, Durban’s Finest (his duo with Dj Sox) released a double disc album, Reloaded, following a decade long hiatus. “It feels good to be back as a duo. The album won us Best Duo… at the Metro FM Awards and Umsindo (an album single) reached a million views on YouTube. All in all, things look good.”
Afrotainment is not a record label it's a movement
© Tyrone Bradley / Red Bull Content Pool
As for this year’s achievements Tira cites Babes Wodumo’s popularity as a win for Durban as well as the Fact Durban Rocks parties and Black Coffee’s recent block party.
So what does the future hold? Nothing but more hard work says Tira.
“There’s no secret to success; Afrotainment just never stops working. It’s the law of averages: we’re always in studio making songs, so we’re bound to make hits.
Right now we’re trying to make sure Durban kwaito reaches an international audience. We’ve been trying to hunt Wizkid and Davido. We don’t know when that’ll happen but when the opportunity presents itself, we will be ready.”