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80+ SA bands, singers to follow: Memeburn’s ultimate Twitter guide
The South African music industry has grown exponentially during the last few years. Bands, DJ’s, soloists, record labels have all taken to the web to promote themselves, and what better way to spread your message than Twitter? Using the micro-blogging platform, artists share their vision, announce gigs and interact with their fans.
We’ve set ourselves the ambitious task of hosting the definitive guide to SA music on Twitter. Please comment and let’s grow it into a powerful resource.
- Freshlyground, the seven-piece band consisting of members from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, is arguably the biggest Afro-pop act South Africa has ever produced. In 2010 they made a giant leap into the international music scene when they helped create the 2010 Fifa World Cup anthem, Waka Waka, with Shakira. They also performed Waka Waka live on stage with her. Their tweets are mainly related to their gigs and schedule, yet with this recent tweet one there it’s no surprise why they are so big: “Waka Waka is officially the most successful world cup song of all time!!! Multi platinum with 2.2 million… http://fb.me/EWkzj3Vr“.
@FRESHLYGROUNDsa
Name Freshlyground
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.freshlyground.com/
Twitter Bio: Freshlyground is a South African band with an eclectic and distinct sound. - Koos Kombuis is a musician, singer, songwriter and author. He is also one of the founding fathers of the legendary Voëlvry movement of the 1980s. Its aim was to “liberate Afrikaans from the shackles of its past”. The impact of Kombuis’ music can still be felt today in groups like Fokofpolisiekar and Koos still remains defiant as you can see in this tweet: “Signing off now! Have a politically incorrect week-end, but dont drink before 11 o’clock!”.
@KoosKombuis
Name Koos Kombuis
Location Cape Town
Web http://http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/kooskombuis/
Twitter Bio: Koos is a South African satirist, author and journalist with a dark past. - DJ Fresh is on the list because he is one of the country’s biggest Tweeters, but he also has thirteen house albums under his belt and a slot on Gauteng’s highest-rated radio station, 5FM. DJ Fresh also owns Big Dawg Productions and has been very outspoken against xenophobia in South Africa.
@DJFreshSA
Name DJ Fresh
Web http://www.djfresh.dj/
Twitter Bio: Club/Radio Jock.. Twitter holic… Love Big Butts and i cannot lie.. I’LL HOUSE YOU!! - Die Antwoord is South Africa’s latest musical export and viral marketing phenomenon. The group consists of three members Ninja, Yo-Landi Vi$$er and DJ Hi-Tek. Ninja aka MaxNormal has fronted various bands over the years such as The Original Evergreens, MaxNormal.TV and The Constructus Corporation taking on various stage personalities. This has also in part lead to the recent success of Die Antwoord with their white trash personas and profanity making it into just about every one of their tweets like: “jou ma se poes in a fish paste jar x x x http://fb.me/w7jiWbqz”.
@DieAntwoord
Name NINJA
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.dieantwoord.com/
Twitter Bio: ZEF NINJA RAP RAVE CREW - The Rudimentals are an eight-piece ska/reggae band that have toured with groups like UB40 and have performed at events like the Cape Town Jazz Festival and Zimfest. Their tweets are mainly related to performance times and gigs, but they’re worth a follow if you’re into reggae and would like to know what’s happening when and where.
@rudimentals
Name The Rudimentals
Location Cape Town
Web http://rudimentals.co.za/
Twitter Bio The Rudimentals are an eight-piece ska/reggae band from Cape Town, South Africa. - Fokofpolisiekar is an Afrikaans punk rock band from Bellville, Cape Town. In a sense they are the modern day equivalent of the Voëlvry movement, breathing new life into Afrikaans music and making Afrikaans rock popular among a new generation. In 2009, a documentary about the band was released. “Fokofpolisiekar: Forgive Them for They Know Not What They Do”. It premiered at the 2009 Encounters International Documentary Film Festival where it won the “Audience Award”.
@fokofpolisiekar
Name fokofpolisiekar
Location South Africa
Web http://www.fokofpolisiekar.co.za/
Twitter Bio: ‘n Site vir alle fopk fans, bly up to date met alles op die blog en ander happenings by die fop kamp. - Skwatta Kamp is one of South Africa’s premier hip-hop super groups. Their career now spans over 10 years, 6 group albums and various solo albums. Pronounced “Skwa-tah Camp”, the group’s name is derived from “Squatter Camp”, the many informal settlements scattered around South Africa.
@Skwatta_Kamp
Name Skwatta Kamp
Location Joburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Web http://www.myspace.com/skwatta
Twitter Bio: Hip Hop / Rap / R&B - Just Jinjer, formerly known as Just Jinger, is one of the most successful rock bands ever in South Africa, having sold more that a quarter of a million albums. The band’s debut album, All Comes Round, became the best-selling rock album in South African history. Over the last decade, the band has performed and toured with U2, Counting Crows and Def Leppard among many others. The band is back in SA after being based in Los Angeles for the past 8 years.
@justjinjer
Name Just Jinjer
Web http://www.justjinjer.com/
Twitter Bio: Official Twitter of Just Jinjer - TKZee rewrote the South African music history books by becoming the biggest selling kwaito group in the country. The group is made up of three school friends – Tokollo Magesh, Kabelo Mabalane, and Zwai Bala. Zwai is a classically trained musician who met aspiring rappers Kabelo (Bouga) and Tokollo (TK) at St. Stithians College. TKZee’s sound is unique. It is a mixture of hip-hop, classical, house, and gospel beats that fuse into what is called “Guz” music.
@tkzeeband
Name TKZee
Location South Africa
Web http://tkzee.co.za/
Twitter Bio: Legendary Kwaito group. Join on http://tkzee.co.za/ - HHP has been one of South Africa’s leading indigenous Hip Hop artists for a while. His style of music is known as Motswako, which means “mixture” in Setswana. HHP also has a 12 piece band. The band consists of 6 ladies — Bass player, Alto Sax, Trombone, Keyboard, 2 backing singers — and 6 guys — Guitarist, Keyboards, Drums, 2 backing singers and HHP, the rapper. The group has shared the stage with the likes of Will Downing, Angelina Kidjo, Jamie Cullum, Saul Williams and Snoop Dogg to name but a few.
@HipHopPantsula
Name Hip Hop Pantsula
Location Jozi Dikereseng, Gauteng, South Africa
Web http://www.myspace.com/hiphoppantsula
- @Prime_Circle
Name Prime Circle
Location South Africa
Web http://www.primecircle.co.za/
Twitter Bio: Proudly South African rock band! - @7thsonsa
Name 7th Son
Location Cape Town
Web http://7thson.co.za
Twitter Bio: South African Reggae Rockers. - @JackParow
Name Jack Parow
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.woelag.co.za/
Twitter Bio: Jack Parow in jou moeder se huisie! Ek is die original donker dodgy afrikaans rapper… heavy uitgeskollie! - @aKINGband
Name aKING
Location 34.087696,18.857141
Web http://www.myspace.com/akingband
Twitter Bio: We are a 4 piece Pop Rock band. - @amaAmbush
Name amaAmbush
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.marimbas.co.za/
Twitter Bio: African music, marimba players - @bushrock7
Name Anton Goosen
Location South Africa
Web http://www.antongoosen.co.za/ - @AshtrayElectric
Name Ashtray Electric
Web http://www.ashtrayelectric.co.za/
Twitter Bio BONJOUR. ALBUM AVAILABLE IN LOCAL MUSIC STORES & ONLINE AT RHYTHM RECORDS - @bensharpa
Name Ben Sharpa
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.pioneerunit.com/
Twitter Bio: in rehearsaal with K-the-I???, RZatz and DJ Raiko right now!! Sharpaganda in da house biiiiaatch! - @BLACKSTONERADIO
Name BLACKSTONERADIO
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.blackstoneradio.com/
Twitter Bio: stoner rock camaraderie based in the good ol’ South of Afreaka…mouthful? - @bobbyvjaarsveld
Name Bobby van Jaarsveld
Location South Africa
Web http://www.bobbyvanjaarsveld.co.za/
Twitter Bio: (Suid) Afrikaanse Sanger - @Captainstu
Name Captain Stu
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.facebook.com/CaptainStuband
Twitter Bio: A fun band from Cape Town, South Africa. - @catstringtheory
Name Cat String Theory
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.myspace.com/catstringtheory
Twitter Bio: Audacious. Energetic. Night and Day. Classic. Bite. Contrary. Full of Electricity. Rock. You? - @chrischameleon
Name Chris Chameleon
Location South Africa
Web http://www.chrischameleon.com/
Twitter Bio: i make the entertainment. - @Versy77
Name Contro ‘Versy
Location New York
Web http://www.myspace.com/archlyricist
Twitter Bio: MC, Activist, Author.Tv Presenter and journalist - @crossingpoint
Name Crossingpoint
Location Durban
Web http://www.crossingpoint.co.za/
Twitter Bio: a noisy South African hardcore band since 1998.. - @dannykmusic
Name Danny K
Web http://www.dannyk.com/
Twitter Bio: My official Twitter account !! - @DieHeuwels
Name Die Heuwels Fantasties
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.Facebook.com/dieheuwels
Twitter Bio: alt pop band, South Africa! - @djeazy
Name djeazy
Location Cape Town
Twitter Bio: 1st the Creator, 2nd life, 3rd hip hp - @GoldFishLive
Name GoldFish
Location Cape Town, Ibiza, everywhere
Web http://www.goldfishlive.com/
Twitter Bio: Electro-Jazz Duo - @hiperdelic
Name hiperdelic
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.pioneerunit.com/
Twitter Bio: http://soundcloud.com/hipe http://www.myspace.com/hiperdelic - @honeybwoof
Name honeybwoof
Location Cape Town
Twitter Bio: i do it for the love of music. african dope records and publishing, my dog luka, living at the foot of table mountain with a view of the city. - @HOTWATERSA
Name HOT WATER
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.hotwater.co.za/
Twitter Bio: SOUTH AFRICAN FOLK-ROCK - @jackhammersa
Name jackhammersa
Location Pretoria
Web http://jackhammer.co.za/
Twitter Bio: Rocking down the highway since 1984 - @juliafj
Name Julia Fabrin
Location Copenhagen
Web http://fireflies.dk
Twitter Bio: singer, songwriter (and student) i love music, vintage dresses, pinotage, rollercoasters, mixtapes, classic books, mint hubbly, adventuring 😉 - @karenzoid
Name Karen Zoid
Location South Africa
Web http://www.karenzoid.co.za/
Twitter Bio: Let’s twit again - @Karma
Name Karma-Ann Swanepoel
Location Los Angeles
Web http://www.theofficialkarmasite.com/
Twitter Bio: Hi. My NAME is Karma. I am a real person. Not the concept! - @LetitiaLindeque
Name Letitia Lindeque
Location South Africa
Web http://www.letitialindeque.blogspot.com/
Twitter Bio: I’m a singer, songwriter and musician from South Africa. I write contemporary pop, dance and soft rock music. - @louisecarver
Name Louise Carver
Location Joburg
Twitter Bio: musician - @rubadubtopstyle
Name Rub-A-Dub
Location South Africa
Web http://www.reverbnation.com/rubadub - @Starrzan
Name The X-Structure
Location The Cape of Good Hope, Africa
Web http://thexstructure.com/
Twitter Bio: Starrzan is the wild and ridiculously good-looking frontman of the virtually awesome band The X-Structure. He is an adventurer, explorer, writer and a dreamer. - @Terrormc
Name Terrormc
Location CAPE TOWN
Web http://Www.myspace.com/Theterrormc - @TheDirtySkirts
Name The Dirty Skirts
Web http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/The-Dirty-Skirts/6602185813?ref=ts
Twitter Bio: The Dirty Skirts deliver a brilliant concoction of alternative pop, punk and rock – with a solid dose of electronica thrown in for good measure. - @parlotones
Name The Parlotones
Location Here, There, Everywhere
Web http://www.facebook.com/theparlotones
Twitter Bio: South African Pop/Rock Band. - @watermarkhigh
Name The Watermark High
Location Gauteng
Web http://www.thewatermarkhigh.co.za/
Twitter Bio The Watermark High is a band from Gauteng, South Africa. Post-Rock / Electronica / Indie / Ambient - @TidalWavesTunes
Name TidalWaves
Location Johannesburg
Web http://www.tidalwaves.co.za/
Twitter Bio A swell and crash of roots rock reggae with a slow, seductive undertow and a spray of intense energy. They’re humble, hard working, and happy souls. - @vancokekartel
Name Van Coke Kartel
Web http://www.vancokekartel.com/
Twitter Bio Our 3rd album – Skop, Skiet & Donner is out now. - @zebraandgiraffe
Name Zebra & Giraffe
Web http://www.zebraandgiraffe.co.za/
Twitter Bio Album – The Inside - @DJLOYD
Name loyiso mdebuka
Web http://www.djloyd.co.za/
Twitter Bio: SDJ/TV&Radio Presenter/MC/Voice Over Artist and nonsense talker… - @340ml
Name Rui Soeiro
Location Johannesburg | South Africa
Web http://www.myspace.com/340ml
Twitter Bio: South Africa based Afro-Dub band - @zakiibrahim
Name Zaki Ibrahim
Location T.O./Cape Town/Vancity Canada
Web http://www.myspace.com/zakiibrahim
Twitter Bio: Soul / Hip Hop / Electroacoustic - @ProVerbMusic
Name Proverb Thekisho
Location JoBurg, South Africa
Web http://www.proverbmusic.com/
Twitter Bio: Inspirational MC, SA Idols Host, Bread Winner, Husband, Father, Artist, TV Presenter, Radio DJ, Lecturer - @JRSohot
Name Jr Bogopa
Location South Africa
Twitter Bio: Your favourite Rappers’ favourite Rapper. - @ZwaiBala
Name Zwai Bala
Web http://www.myspace.com/zwaibala
Twitter Bio: keen learner, educator, husband, father, brother and friend. Love good people, Africa. Not as serious as many perceive. - @loyisomusic
Name Loyiso Bala
Web http://www.loyisomusic.com/
Twitter Bio: Singer /Urban /RnB /Pop / Songwiter/ Producer. - @Lungelo
Name Lungelo
Location JHB, South Africa
Web http://www.lungelo.co.za
Twitter Bio: TS Records Artist| TV & Film Composer Music Producer Protools Mixing engineer Founder of soundBourne Inc - @akaworldwide
Name AKA
Web http://www.myspace.com/akaworldwide
Twitter Bio: Best there is, was, and ever will be. - @big_ol_flabba
Name Big_ol_flabba
Location South Africa
Twitter Bio: The ONLY rapper with a proper set o’ balls…nahmean!!! - @RJBenjamin
Name RJBenjamin
Web http://wefollow.com/RJBenjamin
Twitter Bio: Soul Singer from South Africa… with a sultry, sexy voice! - @GhettoRuff
Name GHETTO RUFF
Location SOUTH AFRICA
Web http://www.ghettoruff.co.za/
Twitter Bio: http://ghettoruffint.blogspot.com/ - @KeziahFisher
Name Keziah Fisher
Location Cape Town, South Africa
Web http://www.keziahfisher.com/
Twitter Bio: South African Singer, Professional Architect BAS(Uct), BArch(SA), Business Woman, Director of 3 Construction Companies and Perfumista.
- @shugasmakx
Name Lebogang Mothibe
Location South Africa
Twitter Bio: A Hip Hop Artist & Ent. Industry Player. Half Owner Of Buttabing Entertainment & Ventilation Productions. 1 Of The Originals, 1 Of The Best, Numba 1!!! - @37mph
Name Mpho Pholo
Web http://www.myspace.com/37mph
Twitter Bio: Music Producer/Pianist/Composer/Artist/Sit-Down Comedian - @ArnoCarstens
Name Arno Carstens
Web http://www.arnocarstens.com/
Twitter Bio: Solo Singer/songwriter’ and singer of Sringbok Nude Girls. New solo album ‘Wonderful Wild’ out now. Available on iTunes, Amazon, and in all good music stores! - @DesmondandTutus
Name Desmond & the Tutus
Web http://desmondandthetutus.blogspot.com/
Twitter Bio: 4 guys with glorious moustaches who play in a band. - @Evolverband
Name Evolver One
Location Johannesburg, South Africa
Web http://www.evolver.co.za/
Twitter Bio: Rock Band. - @versusthewolf
Name Versus the Wolf
Location Cape Town
Web http://myspace.com/versusthewolf
Twitter Bio: Versus the Wolf are a progressive rock band from Cape Town South Africa. - @dearreadermusic
Name Dear Reader
Location Johannesburg
Web http://www.dearreadermusic.com/
Twitter Bio: Alternative / Folk / Pop - @AbelKraamsaal
Name Abel Kraamsaal/span>
Location South Africa
Twitter Bio: Afrikaans singer/songwriter - @JohnnyCradle
Name Johnny Cradle
Location Johannesburg
Web http://johnnycradle.com/
Twitter Bio: South African, Band - @KeenoLee
Name Keeno Lee
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.stereotyperecords.co.za/
Twitter Bio: Singer.Actor.Songwriter.Live 2 love,love 2 live. - @ChadSaaiman
Name Chad Saaiman
Web http://www.stereotyperecords.co.za/
Twitter Bio: Sama-Nominated Singer/Songwriter/Executive Producer:Stereotype Records - @lloydjansenSTR
Name lloyd jansen
Location Cape Town, South Africa
Web http://www.stereotyperecords.co.za/
Twitter Bio: Performing and Recording Artist - @civiltwilightst
Name Civil Twilight ST
Location Cape Town via the East Coast
Web http://www.myspace.com/civiltwilightstreetteam
Twitter Bio: CIVIL TWILIGHT OFFICIAL STREET TEAM. Dedicated to promoting @civil_twilight_ the best band to ever come out of South Africa! - @loneraynger
Name Ray
Location Jozi
Web http://facebook.com/loneraynger
Twitter Bio: Soaking up life one day at a time, currently on a Canada tour doing voxbox sessions and telling the tale! - @thesickleaves
Name The Sick Leaves
Location Pretoria, South Africa
Web http://www.myspace.com/thesickleaves
Twitter Bio: New album LAST DANCE OF THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY out NOW. - @Straatligkindrs
Name Straatligkinders
Location Potchefstroom
Web http://www.straatligkinders.co.za/
Twitter Bio: we are a afrikaner-core band, and part time models. - @dansdanslisa
Name Dansdanslisa
Location Potchefstroom
Web http://dansdanslisa.co.za/
Twitter Bio: we are trained boyfriends and we sing too! - @jsomethingmusic
Name J’Something
Location ÜT: -26.218177,28.043856
Twitter Bio: Singer/Songwriter/Studio Manager/Warm Brother/Soul Candi Radio Producer/Guitarist/Hustler - @newhollandband
Name New Holland
Location Cape Town
Web http://www.newhollandband.co.za/
Twitter Bio: Über cool. - @lottery_tickets
Name The Lottery Tickets
Location South Africa
Web http://www.myspace.com/thelotterytickets
Twitter Bio: In studio - <@lottery_tickets
Name The Lottery Tickets
Location South Africa
Web http://www.myspace.com/thelotterytickets
Twitter Bio: In studio - @lovehatecake
Name Gravity Wins Again
Location Cape Town, South Africa
Web http://www.gravitywinsagain.com/
Twitter Bio: We are a band. We have a new EP out. Twit twit. - @RCBand
Name RCBand
Location RockChurch, (E)Peoria, IL
Web http://rcpeoria.org/
Twitter Bio: The band for RCpeoria.org. - @KoldproduK
Name KoldproduK
Location South Africa
Web http://www.myspace.com/koldprodukproject
Twitter Bio: Africa’s Pop Sensation! - @88KOS
Name 88 Kilos of Sunshine
Location South Africa
Web http://www.88kos.com/
Twitter Bio: Ex Sharkbrother – resurrected as 88 Kilos of Sunshine – new music liberated. #PursuingHappiness - @ftgallows
Name Facing the Gallows
Location ozie, South Africa
Web http://www.myspace.com/facingthegallows