MONWA & SUN - Majekeje Basoba (1988)

Cool Spot, SPOT(V)001

Producer: Mally Watson (exec: Ken Haycock)

Engineer: Mally Watson

Landmark debut album that established new independent label Cool Spot as a force to be reckoned with and helped carve the new post-bubbegum pantsula sound. 'Orlando Hangover' remains much loved today, even before the wildly popular 2012 remake by DJ Vetkuk vs Mahoota ft Dr Malinga, 'Via Orlando', which failed to credit the Yekani as the source, raising the ire of many (more here).

"The Monwa and Sun duo was formed when Monwabisi Dennis Yekani met Poth Nkotsoe....Monwabisi has been in music for a some time already and with the younger Poth they made a formiddable team that released their debut album Majekejeke on the Cool Spot label" (Mojapelo, 2008:168). The duo followed this up with Tigers Don't Cry before embarking on solo careers.

MONWA - Aweyo (1990)

Cool Spot/EMI, SPOT(V)008   
Producer: Mally Watson (exec: Ken Haycock)       
Recorded at: Cool Spot Studios   

After first hitting the scene fronting the disco-soul outfit Denis Yekani & The Movement, Monwabisi Denis Yekani teamed up with Poth Nkotsoe to form Monwa and Sun, who put out monster hits like 'Orlando Hangover' in the late 80s. He stood out for pioneering the new school sound and for his superior lyricism. In 1990 he released his solo debut Aweyo, featuring backing vocals from Supa Frika and others. Tracks like 'Night Groover' and 'Pantsula Party' speak for themselves, while '1990' is a sign of the times, with state censorship a thing of the past...

"We are marching on the front line,
United we stand divided we fall,
In 1990 fulfill your dreams.
1990-1990! Year of liberation
1990-1990! Okay
Viva Viva Viva
Phambili ma-Afrika"

DENIS YEKANI AND THE MOVEMENT - Save Your Last Dance For Me (1985)

Transistor/EMI, 12CBK(C)5018   
Producer: Sidwell Duda   
Engineers: Phil Audoire & Keith Forsyth       
Recorded at: Ovation & Delarey Studios

Monwabisi Denis Yekani would go on to form the massive pre-kwaito duo Monwa and Sun on the Cool Spot label. Before that he put out this sweet synth-soul maxi with The Movement. Produced by one Sidwell Duda, who helped launch the career of Sello 'Chicco' Twala that same year.

B-side 'Try Your Luck' is a great downtempo bubblegum love song:
"If you wanna try your luck, 
baby why don't you try me?
If you are looking for love, don't you look no further.
Don't regret the hard times you've had, now the search is over.
No more lonely nights from now on, now the search is over..."

MONWA AND SUN - Tigers Don't Cry (1989)

Cool Spot/EMI, SPOT(V)004
Producer: Mally Watson (exec: Ken Haycock)
Engineer: Mally Watson
Composed by: Monwabisi Yekani

In the late 80s, the team behind Brenda and the Big Dudes early success, Malcolm Watson and Ken Haycock, left CCP, EMI's "black music" division, to set up their own label, Cool Spot. One of their earliest successes was with Monwa and Sun. The label is still going strong, although this once-popular duo have long since slipped off the radar. The B-side of this 1989 album contained soul-influenced numbers like "Louie, Tigers Don't Cry", "Heartbeat" and "Cover Me", while the first side has more conventional pre-kwaito disco tracks "Not in My House", "Stranger" and "Makonrad".

"The Monwa and Sun duo was formed when Monwabisi Dennis Yekani met Poth Nkotsoe . . . Monwabisi had been in music for some time already and with the younger Poth they made a formidable team that released their debut album Majekeje on the Cool Spot label. Their follow-up in 1989 was Tigers Don't Cry featuring the title track as well as "Makonrad". All the music was written by Monwabisi, engineered and produced by Mally Watson. In 1990 they both went solo."  (Mojapelo 2008:168)