After a few years of mixtapes we have finally relented and compiled a Christmas mixtape. Yup, that pagan festival adopted and co-opted by one of the world’s leading religions, and which, in some places, has turned into a shopping, eating, and drinking festival. This mixtape is not motivated by the desire to celebrate or commemorate Christmas, rather it is an attempt to provide an alternative soundtrack to the stuff we are subjected to every time we venture into a shopping mall or supermarket during December. So you won’t find any Boney M or Mariah Carey here. But that doesn’t mean you won’t wince now and then. That’s the nature of Christmas-themed compilations.
Nevertheless, the plan has been to put together something clearly South African but also not too cringey, so something you wouldn’t mind accompanying you on a shopping outing. We have managed to find 25 pieces which vary in all sorts of directions and which span well over half a century of recordings. Some are very different to what we normally hear at Christmas time and some are different – perhaps even subversive – versions of Christmas songs with which we are very familiar. Hopefully you can put your ear or headphones on, block out the pervasive hackneyed stuff, and listen to these songs instead.
- Happy Christmas Happy New Year – Mabel Mafuya
- O Little Swinging Town Of Bethlehem – The Buskaid Soweto String Project
- Silent Night – Soweto String Quartet
- The Sun Shines Down (On Christmas Day) – Ed Jordan, Shaluza Max & Bongani Masuku
- Ke Mmoloki Jesu – Kings Messenger Quartet
- Ukhisimusi Uqedo Amadola – Mahlabathini
- Jabulani Christmas – Mabel Mafuya
- Kisimus Time – The Skylarks
- Xmas Message – The Heroes
- Compliments Of The Season – Reggie Msomi And His Hollywood Jazz Band
- Inkanyezi Nezazi (The Star And The Wiseman) – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- O Holy Night – Q Zoo
- An African Christmas – Judith Sephuma
- All I Want For Christmas – Ndlovu Youth Choir
- Christmas In Kakamas – David Kramer
- Happy Christmas To All In The Land – Richard Jon Smith
- Christmas Song – Duncan Faure
- Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – Toxic Shame
- My Heart Is Heavey (AS A Stone Is) – Marshall Harmse
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Soft Shoes
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Jimmy 12 Inch
- Psycho Christmas – Psycho Reptiles
- Little Drummer Boy – Martin Rocka & Danny De Wet
- Merry Xmas – Jack Parow
- Xmas In Krugersdorp – Kalahari Surfers