BLUE AFRICAN SKIES

Based in Cape Town

A proudly Capetonian group, Blue African Skies was formed in June 2003. The group have pioneered a unique style that fuses traditional Pan African sounds with cutting edge urban Pop culture.

Blue African Skies is comprised of Ragga emcee Khanyisa Boto A.K.A Bagga, the divinely sugar coated vocals of Linda Mali A.K.A Miss Mali as well as the man behind the music, producer and emcee Simon Sibanda A.K.A Ghetto Child of Slam Productions.

In 1994 Bagga joined the Reggae outfit Free I on bass guitar, in 2000 he started his emceeing career with Kwaito group MC Blaster then collaborated with Ghetto Child to produce a track for the compilation album o Ghetto Star, released in 2002. In 2003 at the age of 18 years, Miss Mali achieved an accolade as the first and youngest black female Head Chorister of the National Youth Choir.

To date Ghetto Child has been involved in the South African music industry starting off as Rhodie/Sound technician at Mega Music in Johannesburg . Then he teamed up with Mama Dance! Sound Studios as sound engineer and producer. Mama Dance! Records was formed in 1997 and has quickly become one of the most successful labels in the Cape .

In 2001 he launched his independent label Slam! Productions. Ghetto Child produces both professional and aspiring musicians mainly from the Cape 's townships, specialising in Kwaito, Hip Hop and Ragga music. To date he has produced music for acclaimed Hip hop Artist Mizchif and has worked alongside producers Oom Alec Khauli and Thabiso Thaso Tsotetsi. In August 2003, producer and artist Ghetto Child launched his debut album Evidence and had a popular music video called Uhambo that received heavy rotation on SABC. Thus began the rise of Blue African Skies.

For their large scale live performances, Blue African Skies are accompanied by a 4 piece Pan African band. The group has a truly crossover style that pulls young and old, rural and urban, black and white.

Produced by Slam Productions, on 19 August 2005 , the group released their debut album titled “Hlabelela” through Universal Records / Mama Dance! This 16 track album can best be described as an African salad of Pan African pop with wholesome ingredients such as traditional South African mining chants, Hip Hop, Kwaito, House, Reggae and Gospel grooves.

The group’s first Hit song “Usisi Wami” is doing extremely well on the charts of national radio stations with “Don’t Leave” and “African Market” soaring the charts. Due to extensive radio exposure, a substantial fan base was established and Blue African Skies then made their way to Gauteng for some radio and television interviews as well as a mind-blowing performance in Knysna alongside Jamali, Lundi and Lords Comforters.

Blue African Skies has been involved in various endeavours since the release of their album. They have recorded their debut music video for the track “African Market” that has been broadcast on Chanell O, MTV base, DSTV Channel MK89, SABC 1, 2, and 3’s youth programmes. You definitely should look out for “African Market”.

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

• The African Business Conference - 23 rd Oct 2005
• Knysna: Safer Schools Programme – Human Rights Day - March 2005
• UCT Orientation week – February 2006

LIVE MEDIA PERFORMANCES  

• Backstage
• Morning Edition – ETV
• Street Journal
• SABC 2: Bling
• SABC 2: Destination SA
• SABC 1: Yo TV! Wildroom
• Channel O

Blue African Skies message – “ The sky is the limit! Spread social consciousness”