Batsumi - Batsumi (J-Town Records – PVA 4 - South-Africa - 1977)

Ultra rare first album by Jazz fusion group founded in Soweto, South Africa in 1972. Certainely one of My favorite Spiritual African Jazz. Recorded in 1974 in Soweto, Batsumi’s long-lost debut album is a powerful glimpse into the vibrant Afro-jazz scene that thrived under apartheid but remained hidden from the world. Led by blind guitarist Johnny Mothopeng, with his brother Lancelot on keyboards and Zulu Bidi on bass, the group blended hypnotic riffs, psychedelic textures, and spirited solos on sax and flute. Remastered from the original tapes, the album features five extended tracks, including the dynamic opener Lishonile, which builds from layered grooves to urgent chanting, and the smoother Anishilabi, marked by jazzy keyboard and bass interplay. Once obscure, this is bold, danceable music that still resonates.

This is the 3rd pressing from 1978 on J-Town record. The record is in NMint close to Mint condition (actual soundclip of the record for sale on our Instagram post) / Fragile sleeve is VG++