VA – African Child on M2KR MELT2000 Revisited

Syd Kitchen, Madala Kunene, Busi Mhlongo, Mabi Gabriel Thobejane and M2KR MELT2000 Revisited team up for “African Child”, delivering 4 tracks of soulful, body-moving afro house. Gathering 3 artists from across the Afro House spectrum, African Child showcases M2KR MELT2000 Revisited‘s curatorial range.

African Child by Syd Kitchen, Madala Kunene, Busi Mhlongo, Mabi Gabriel Thobejane

Behind the Afro House : Release Notes

AFRICAN CHILD brings together four reinterpretations by South African DJ and production duo Deeper Kings, drawing directly from the MELT 2000 archives. The EP moves between ritual percussion, Zulu guitar traditions, ancestral chant, township rhythm and Afro House electronic reconstruction. The Tracks African Child, is built around the late Mabi Gabriel Thobejane, one of South Africa’s most respected Malombo drummers and spiritual percussionists. The remix draws from elements of Shapedi together with material from The Drum Spirit sample sessions. Deeper Kings reshape these recordings while preserving the raw pulse that defined Mabi’s work. I’m Watching You Mzansi brings together the voices of Busi Mhlongo and samples by Madala Kunene. The remix incorporates fragments from Busi’s Indiza and Madala’s Igwababa, merging Urbanzulu vocal energy with Madala’s unmistakable Zulu guitar style. The result sits between deep house, traditional rhythm and urban commentary. On Meltdown Dreams, Deeper Kings dive into the archives of the 1994 Outernational Meltdown sessions. Built from rehearsal recordings and spontaneous studio moments, the track captures the atmosphere of a period when musicians from South Africa, Europe, Brazil and beyond gathered shortly after the cultural boycott years. Rather than a conventional remix, the production works as a sonic collage and reconstruction of that historic exchange. Kulo Mhlaba, based on Zimpi Zombango by Madala Kunene and Syd Kitchen from the Bafo Bafo project. The original recording carried themes of conflict, humanity and reflection. Deeper Kings retain the emotional weight of the source while shifting it into a deeper electronic space driven by layered percussion, guitar textures and hypnotic groove. Already familiar to M2KR listeners through earlier remix work, Deeper Kings have built a reputation for combining Afro House energy with a strong respect for the original recordings they reinterpret. Castro B’s first remixes for MELT2000 date back to the late 90’s, he’s one of the duo’s key creative forces, bringing his own production style to the decks rooted in rhythm, atmosphere and South African musical heritage. Through Deeper Kings, he and Morena Eric Lenkoe represent a seasoned generation of producers extending the MELT 2000 archive into new electronic M2KR dancefloor spaces.

Download ‘African Child’ in MP3, FLAC, and AIFF Formats

Tracks, BPM & Key

1. Syd Kitchen, Madala Kunene – Kulo Mhlaba Deeper Kings Warrior Mix

   Afro House | 122 BPM | D Major | 6:00

2. Madala Kunene, Busi Mhlongo – I’m Watching You Mzansi feat. Madala Kunene Deeper Kings Double Mix

   Afro House | 123 BPM | C Minor | 5:18

3. Mabi Gabriel Thobejane – Meltdown Dreams Deeper Kings Outernational Mix

   Afro House | 123 BPM | B Minor | 6:36

4. Mabi Gabriel Thobejane – African Child Deeper Kings Malombo Mix

   Afro House | 123 BPM | C Minor | 6:16