Celebrating Twenty Years of Eeka Mouz Big Bad Sound System [2000 – 2020]
On October 18, 2020 All roads leads to ‘Reggae City’ in Soweto for Eeka Mouz Annual Earthstrong Celebrations. The massive come out in numbers from the East, the South, the North and the West to be with Gauteng’s best loved and cherished Reggae Sound Man, Sibusiso ‘Eeka Mouz’ Nkosi who owns and operates the Big Bad Sound System: The sound of Soweto, the sound that has powered all the dances in and around Soweto, Jozi and Gauteng in general. The Sound for the people. All tribes are welcome at Eeka’s bash. This is one gathering where you will find all mansions, ghetto yutes, Elders, baldheads, rude gyals and bwoys, Kings and Queens with their offspring, young and old intermingle, all in the name of Reggae, Roots and Dub. This is where you will spot old acquaintances and make new ones and Ital is served. It is not only a celebration of the Big Mouse Bass Day, but people gather here to revive and revitalise bonds through Reggae music and culture, some come to heal, some come to enjoy, some come to support, some come to be seen, but we all come because we LOVE Eeka!
If you have ever wondered why there’s a ‘Reggae City’ in Soweto, well it is because there resides one of the people who can be attributed to holding the Reggae scene in and around Soweto intact. When I finally found my way to Eeka Mouz’s place (after getting lost, even though even though I have been there countless times) I found him, wearing a red, green and gold mesh vest and track pants with red, green and gold stripes, busy offloading his sound as he had just collected it from another famous Reggae spot in Soweto known as the Coconut Jungle. He tells me that he still needs to do a sound check for the next day session (Polarity’s Bday Bash). When we finally sit down for this innerview we are constantly interrupted by people enquiring if there will be a session on that day, and constant shouts of “Eeka” “Rasta” “Bredda” as forms of greetings. It was quite endearing seeing the kind of respect he received from his neighbours. Eeka was born on the 13th of October 1980 in White City, Soweto and says “I hope I don’t die here”.
This is how it went down.
How did your journey with Reggae Music begin?
When I started Reggae music, I think it was around 1994/5, the first time I listened to Reggae I got an Eric Donaldson cassette “Trouble in AFRICA”
Before that you’ve didn’t have any influence?
No, no-one at home was Rasta or listening to Reggae music, I just loved Rasta by listening to Reggae music.
Where did you get that cassette?
I got it from a friend; actually I stole it from a friend (laughs) (who is the Friend?) His name is Vusi “Rooi” in fact it was his uncle’s cassette, I couldn’t resist the message so I had to steal it. That’s where it all started.
What happened after?
At home they couldn’t understand how I can be playing Reggae music whilst other kids were playing ‘Jodeci’ ‘KC and Jojo’ but I didn’t feel that music. Around 1999 some Rastas approached me cause I was always playing Reggae music, they wanted to hire a sound system, they had a session at a sports club somewhere in Jabulani. I agreed to give them sound and they were supposed to give me R70 and they only gave me R50 (laughs) really, that’s how I got into the rub a dub scene.
So that’s where Big Band Sound started by hiring it out to the Rasta’s?
No actually, I was hiring it out to other people who hosted other genre parties; I wasn’t close to the Rastas at that time. I would also play at the Stokvels that I hosted in my yard; also I always loved playing music loudly so that’s how the Rastas knew that I had a sound system. I was always playing Reggae.
And how did you become Rasta?
I would never tell how I became Rasta, I felt Rasta from a young age. I just fell in love with it no one influenced me, there was no one who was Rasta at home, but Ras Chunku played a part somehow because he was the only Rasta that we knew around here and he would host Reggae Sessions. So, through smoking marijuana, and chilling with him listening to Reggae music and seeing Rastas, that’s where the love came from, where the Rasta livity started
What attracted you to the movement, as much as you can sit with people and smoke, there should be something that made you fall in love with it
Honestly, I just love Rasta the way they lived, it was not normal, people hated Rasta but I was in love with Rasta the way they grew their hair inspired me.
How did they take it at home?
They never really had a problem with it, because it calmed down my “rudeness” that I was before I became Rasta. I think my mom was happy that I became Rasta, there were no cops who came knocking at her door, I wasn’t getting arrested anymore, no calls to home telling them that I was at the police station.
Let’s talk about that If you don’t mind, you and your rudeness days, what was happening?
We would rob people of their belongings, we were just being nuisances, being naughty, being kids. I think peer pressure played a role also because I didn’t know why I was doing it even social workers would come and ask what’s happening I wouldn’t have an answer for them.
This went on for how long?
I was a rude boy for a long time until I became Rasta, that’s when I started to be humble, but before I was I “hlongandlebe” if they say a child is “ihlongandlebe” that was me. I was always getting reprimanded.
What’s the longest time you’ve spent in a prison cell?
Luckily, I only slept in police station cells, I never experienced the whole going to trial business, luckily at home they would bail me, another advantage is that my uncle is a cop so he would, you know (laughs)he would make sure that I don’t go to “Sun City” aka Johannesburg Prison. I give thanks that I turned to Rasta, He moved me away from that situation (who knows what would have happened) some of my brothers are dead, some are serving lengthy sentences as we speak so I give thanks for the opportunity that Rastafari gave me, a second chance.
What was the first show that you hosted as BBS? And How did BBS come about?
Actually, I’ve always hosted parties, I’ve always been a party man, it all started in 1998 that’s when I threw myself a Birthday party here at home, they never threw me one, so I had the power to do my own birthday, so from then I did it annually until the year 2000 that’s when I did the first Reggae bashment party.
98-2000 was just a normal house party?
Ye it was just a normal party with my friend, we would chill until I did that 1st rub a dub with my own sound in 2000. I’ve never hired a sound system for a gig, I’ve always had my own sound to run things so it was easy for me.
Do you still remember which selectors played at that gig?
On that day! Yoh! DJ Fanta was there, Love Child, Papa Seepi from Naledi, elder Frans was selecting, those are the only ones I can recall at this moment, but I think there were plenty selectors on that day, Thunder was there, some have long since quit the movement, we’ve already forgotten about them.
And how was the whole show since it was your first rub a dub gig?
Yoh that show! Speakers we burning up hey I had to run to Protea to fetch another sound it was just a “bam-bam” but through the powers of the Most High the show did continue, (how was the attendance?) Well those days when you had a 100 people it was a lot of people especially in Reggae gigs cause a lot of people didn’t understand the whole Reggae/Rasta movement, but the attendance was quite good. For me it was full cause Rastas were here and since from that time I never looked back, some years Rasta would come here and do their own show even if I didn’t want to but they will be here and say “we want a dance” and they would have a dance whether I liked it or not.
And how would that make you feel to see people coming to celebrate your Earthday, whether you wanted to or not.
That makes me feel very special in the Rasta Community they have my back, cause it’s not with just anyone where people will leave their home from wherever and come to a party even though there isn’t a party cause sometimes I wouldn’t afford to cook for them and I would say I’m not doing a party this year but they would come in numbers, remember the year when GARF was cancelled in 2018 cause of the rain, it was supposed to be a two day dance but it rained heavily on Saturday, so we decided to cancel the Sunday session also, but Rastas came in numbers and I had to take out the sound and plug the speakers and the dance continued.
I don’t know if a lot of people know that you can also select and you are really good at it and you normally play only when you are doing sound check or for a few minutes
I think I have over done that thing, and the love for it is no longer there, now I’m just giving the youth a chance, I’ve done it a thousand times. I don’t have the energy to be behind the desk, let the youth do the thing, I’ll just be behind the scenes.
How did it start the whole selecting thing, besides you being a sound man, did you start with Reggae to select?
I’ve always loved music, when I was growing up at home there was a Hi-Fi system that came in pieces, that’s how I learned to connect the sound. I would steal the amplifier and go DJ at my Stokvel parties. At home they didn’t see the vision that I had in mind; they wanted me to go to school. I never liked school I don’t want to lie to you, my school is Rastafari, so I ended up taking my school fees money and went and bought myself a mixer so that I would be able to mix. Even today they still remind me about that (they want their money) (laughs) they would say: “you! We gave you money to go to school…” that’s why I won’t let the music business fail or fail me; it must work for me because I sacrificed a lot for it.
I was saying about the DJing part, I still feel that you are cheating the masses out there lol (not really)I’ve heard you playing.
The thing that made me stop selecting is that people didn’t appreciate the kind of music that we played, I know everyone has their preferences, that’s why we have different selectors it’s not only one DJ, maybe for an hour its roots, then Dancehall then lovers rock. I felt like people didn’t appreciate what we were doing. Being behind the desk is energy, I need to be able to think about a song that is going to please you, if you don’t appreciate what I do behind the desk then I don’t see why I should continue playing. That’s why I prefer playing when setting up sound or those few minutes before people rock up.
Isn’t it also your duty to educate the masses about the kind of music that you play?
Yes, but you can’t educate drunkards, that’s another story (laughs) all they want is to have fun and you come and play that slow music, for me it was waste of energy, that’s why I decided to leave it for the youth. The youths are there, they are hungry for it.
We are celebrating BBS 20 years anniversary on the 18th of October, can people expect a set from you, remind people where this came from?
Ye that’s true, we need to play Reggae my sister. I mean real Reggae music, not this ice cream sound kind of music because I cannot plug 20 speakers and then you come and play a Mickey Mouse set. We need a boom sound, you know when there are big speakers you need big music so some people they don’t get why we plug 20 speakers. I cannot plug 20 speakers and you come with tin pan sound it doesn’t make sense, if people want to play their tin pan sound, we can plug in one bass speaker and two tops and that’s it, I promise to play if people will appreciate it. I know the old school people will but the new school generation is hard to please and remember when they rock up they are not walking alone (drunk) well we don’t blame them it’s 2020 we move with the times.
From when you started up until now what has changed in the events scene?
You see, Reggae people are hard to please and they don’t want to pop out money, they like freebies. Throughout the years Reggae has finished my money, maybe I would have also bought myself a house and stop with the sound thing cause people want to come to the dance but they don’t want to spend money and uplift us.This week I’m sure I have spent close to R4000 on sound, where does that money come from cause no one booked me for sound. I had to take out my own money to fix the sound but at the end of the day people will want freebies. I think that’s what kills Reggae music in this country, if people can also put in an effort like the effort that we sound people put, Reggae would be amongst other top genres, but if it continues like this we won’t get anywhere.
What do you think is the cause, do we blame promoters who don’t charge people, I’m sure if you tell someone that the fee is R20, they will pay but if you promote it as free then whose fault is it?
You see the problem comes when you start charging, you get less people, that’s why some gigs are for free, sometimes it’s not about charging people but let’s say there’s 100 of us at a dance or 200 and each person pops R10 or something, if a speaker burns you are able to go get parts to fix it, there’s transport money, I don’t work alone, that person needs to be paid so if you guys don’t pay me how am I going to pay him. Reggae people need to be with us, they need to work with us cause it’s only us Reggae people who can take Reggae to the top, we can’t expect the holy spirit to come and rescue us or someone else to come from where ever to come and fix it for us, we are the only once who can do it. Let’s say there a Reggae gig and people don’t come to support then that would be a problem too because it’s Reggae for us by us. Also this promoters who exploits us, they are killing us because sometimes you work and then you don’t get your money, that thing is painful, to work and not get paid; there is nothing as painful as that.
What would be their excuse for not paying you?
They didn’t make enough money. I don’t see how that involves me as a sound man. I am also at work, if you organise a party you need to secure things that are important first. Firstly it’s sound, it is important more than anything, not a DJ or whoever, sound comes first in Reggae parties, it’s not like, House gig, there we know a DJ comes first.If selectors and artists can come work with us I think that would be better cause as a soundman if I host a show at my place I would have to pay everyone and when an artist host shows they come to us and ask for help, so why can’t they help us.Fairness is not being practiced. I’m not saying all DJs are not into paying but its Reggae, that’s one thing we need to understand we are still trying this thing out, it’s going to take years for us with this mentality that we have to put Reggae in the spotlight.
I saw on social media one of the DJs saying that from now on they are going to start charging people, do you think people will not attend?
There’s going to be few people trust me, these people don’t want to pop out money I don’t know why but they drink expensive alcohol and drive big cars, it’s not like we also don’t want to drive those big cars but how do I do that if my sound is not proper, we sacrifice other things so they also need to sacrifice as Reggae people and support the movement.
In the 20 years, what has been your worst and your greatest memories?
In the year 2000 we got arrested, 13 Rastas were arrested for playing Reggae music, we were put behind Caspers. I will never forget that day, it was brutality because we were arrested for playing Reggae music nothing else and we were charged for being drunk but we don’t drink alcohol. I was arrested with Bobotikal, Conquer Arson and other Bredrens. We spent three days in police holding cells, we were released on Monday (did you have to pay bail?)No we didn’t have to, they just let us go, you know when you are arrested for drunkenness and you get arrested on a Friday they let you out on Monday. They signed paperwork that stated that we were drunk. That was the worst day and the good memories; I have too many to mention but in 2013 I hosted Kebra Ethiopia Sound System, that was the best Reggae session that I have ever hosted here in Reggae City. Rastas from the East Rand arrived with a big bus (Reggae By Bus) yes that was the real Reggae by bus.
Was it the first time hosting Kebra?
Yes, that was the first time, it was in October 2013, I got to host him again in 2017. Throughout the years I have collaborated with many sounds, Giggs Pro came in 2019, 2018 I played alone. When Giggs came in 2019 it was not for my Earthday celebration, I think it was for Valentine’s Day bash or something, it was after the East Rand gig in January. 2021, hopefully things will be bigger and better cause I am also tired of spending. I no longer have the energy, Reggae has drained my energy but I’m not going to give up.
I was going to ask you about that, you are always saying on social media that you are tired; you want to sell your sound.
I want to give up but no matter how hard I try to quit I can’t do it. Quitting is not the way cause I love Reggae, I’m not doing it for the money, if it was I would have quit a long time ago, it’s for the love I have for Reggae
So we must relax when you start venting?
(Laughs) No I might quit trust me Mama, sometimes I want to sell the sound but when the buyer gets here I get cold feet. You see, I just bought new speakers now and I haven’t used them as yet, tomorrow (Polarity’s Earthday celebration) would be the first time so I don’t think Big Bad Sound is going to retire soon, maybe after another 20 years.
I’ll remind you (laughs) how did the name Big Bad Sound come about?
Big Bad Sound, it started as a joke, Rapza Presidential is the one who started this name. We share a star sign so we would collaborate, remember those Mzimhlophe days? That’s where it started and it just stuck and next thing I know it’s Big Bad this Big Bad that lol. My sound has always been EekaMouz Sound System.
Why EekaMouz? Did he influence you in anyway?
The name EekaMouz was given to me by the Late Ras Carly from Zimbabwe in 1999. He said I look like him and the name stuck with me till today. I didn’t know who EekaMouse was, everyone started calling me that name until I eventually got to know who he was.I don’t think I look like him though(You do) (laughs) no I don’t.
When you found out who he was surely you checked out his music
Yes, I have plenty of his music, he is crazy like myself, he is an entertainer I cannot say he is a singer because whatever that he sings about its about nothing (sings: dumdum dadadumdum) you know that’s an entertainer. I guess I am an entertainer too cause I entertainer people.
I don’t think most people know that side of you “entertainer” “very funny” what is that one thing that people don’t know about you?
What they don’t know must stay unknown, for you to know that you must really know me, if you don’t me then you must know that “that one is always serious and he doesn’t laugh”
But I am going to expose you
No, don’t do that you will put me in trouble (laughs)
No, I will, my headline “ One thing you didn’t know about EekaMouz is that he should have been a comedian”
Lol not like that, I’m not a comedian (ok you are funny) but I am that guy who is always in a good space, even if you get me cross, it’s like pouring water on top of a duck because the more you pour the more the duck becomes happy. The more sh*t you bring the more I take it. I think I have taken too much bullsh*t from the Reggae people, if it wasn’t for the love I would have quit a long time ago. I hate working hard without getting any compensation for it, it stresses me out. If I leave the house with my sound it means I’m a going to work, unless I host my own dance then I know even if I put out 20 speakers I don’t care because I know it’s not exactly work but for fun, you understand, if you don’t have money to pay me just tell me you don’t have it, don’t promise me something that you don’t have, if I agree that’s good for you, if I don’t then I don’t. Some people abuse us, yes use us but don’t abuse us that’s wrong. When I leave the house they take it that I am going to work so when I come back I have to show for it, unless I just stepped out for my own fun cause I also need that you know, rock up at a party looking fresh and not wearing overalls.
Do you get to do that though because I don’t remember the last time I saw you looking dapper?
Well I have more overalls than normal clothing, that’s me cause I am always working, I am used to it.
And you work alone most of the times, why?
I don’t have friends, work is my friend, if you are with me then we should be working, if not then you can stay at your place and I at mine. People don’t understand that, I am a very disciplined person so maybe that’s why sometimes people get scared or something but this (sound) is money if you don’t take care of it then we won’t get along. I used to work with my bredren Mgimbiza, but he doesn’t stay in Soweto anymore, I haven’t had anyone who understands how I want to do things. If you work with sound you need to have a good ear, if sound is distorting you need to be able to pick it up. When I leave you with the system I shouldn’t come back and find all the speakers burnt. I can’t work with someone who doesn’t understand my work ethics. At Reggae gigs I normally work alone cause I just set up and my work is done, the only reason I would need someone is to help out with load in and load out but connecting the system is my job so that when things go wrong I know I am the one to blame, unless someone knows what they are doing. For house gigs I have brothers who help me out but they don’t like Reggae that much so they don’t come with to Reggae gigs, like I also don’t like house music but I do listen to it but I don’t do it for the love but for the money (laughs)
Which selectors do you work with on BBS?
BBS has its own DJs, Gunnz Selecta, Nox Champion, Smokey, Selecta Juice, Skadonkens, Mpumi Sanctified, Coconut and Vitoto. My only problem with them is that they don’t bring the energy, sometimes that’s why I don’t host gigs because I need the energy from them. I cannot put energy and they don’t
When you say “more energy” what are you specifically referring to?
Like if I have a gig at a park, I can’t be the only one setting up and plugging the sound. I need strength from the guys because at the end of the day it’s not my gig it’s theirs also; they are the ones who will be playing. I don’t play so why must I be the one lifting the sound alone. I feel like I am being abused, that’s why I have this annual show, it doesn’t stress me because it takes place in my yard, when the speakers leave the storeroom they go to the front yard and back to the storeroom, finish and klaar. So DJs don’t bring that energy but I won’t blame them they are still learning the culture of sound, it requires energy. We have boxmen who only deal with lifting the speakers. I shouldn’t be doing that, there should be people doing that, it’s theirs isn’t it.
What makes Eeka happy?
Me being around Reggae people, people who love Reggae music, it makes me happy. Seeing people dancing to Reggae music brings me joy, it means there is something good that we are doing.
And what makes you sad besides people who don’t want to pay you?
The sad part is when they burn my speakers, I get stressed, actually any person who messes up my sound makes me mad, how do they put it in Sesotho “ O fer” (O ferola dibete)yes that “u fefefeferolladibete”(laughs)
Are you single, married?
(Laughs) ehhEekaMouz is married and has 3 kids, two boys and one girl.
How long have you been married?
You know I met my Empress in 2001 (where) her granny’s house is just around the corner and her parents place is four or five streets away from here. The first time I saw her I told myself that “this one is going to be my wife” and Rastafari blessed me. We’ve been together ever since.
Future plans for BBS and Eeka?
To see my sons taking it to another level, where I couldn’t reach. I don’t care much about myself, I have made my mark and my name will always be the in the books but my sons must take it to another level.
And your daughter (future Dub selectress?)
Ahh my baby, I hope she will have the energy for it, cause my older son is already playing guitar, drums and marimba so he is on the right path.
Does he play Reggae? I’m sure he doesn’t have a choice lol
Lol, no I don’t have sound in the house, I don’t play Reggae but he is a Reggae man. I always take him with to Reggae sessions. He is going to be my future boxman, I am training him for that. I am also training him to connect the sound, he is only 14 and I also started when I was his age so I think it is the right time for him too.
Maybe in 20 years time I will interview him for the 40th anniversary of BBS
Yes cause I don’t think I would still be having the energy to carry these things, they are too heavy, they require young blood. In 20 years time I’ll be 60 years old so, (laughs) (60 is not that old) I’ll be a Madala, they must just put me in a car and take me to the Reggae session. I don’t need stress, not at that age.
You quit your 9-5
I had to do it, it was draining me, I couldn’t do what I loved. I saw my dreams flying out of the window. If you are working a 10 hr shift, you have two hrs traveling time to work and two hours traveling back, so all in all you only have 2-3 hrs for yourself and in those 2-3 hours you will never build your empire so I realised that I needed to quit in order to pursue my dream with music. Music for me is not only about playing but also about building it, that is also another secret about me, I don’t only play it but I also create the music , so I didn’t have enough time when I was working. For me to build four of those bass bins I need roughly three weeks. Everyday I wake up and at 9am I’m at work, at 5pm I knock off, no lunch break. I don’t have a lunch break at work (laughs) when I’m in I’m in.
Do you have a lot of people that you sell to?
I don’t need them to be buying from me, if they buy then I won’t make progress cause I will always be giving the sound away and I won’t see the fruits of that money, but when I build for myself I get to enjoy the interest. I also don’t build because it takes a lot of time and that time is precious and special and people don’t want to pay. I only build for people who are not from kasie because they don’t mind paying, kasie people would rather go buy a hybrid speaker from a white person rather than support one of their own. Around here I only do deals, I build a box for you then you leave a ‘heart’for me, battering like the ways our forefathers used to do. So building for other people wastes my time unlike if I build for myself, like now I’m busy building myself a present, cause no one is going to buy me that present so I better build it for myself, hopefully it will be ready for Sunday (18th October).
What were you doing at the 9-5 job?
I was working at Supreme moulding company, we sold picture frame moulds to companies that did picture frames. I was there for ten years but before that I was ‘Johnny Craig’ they used to call me that, a lot of people don’t know that about me. I am a shoemaker and that’s what helped me buy my own sound. I used to make the tyre shoes (inqamulele)
Come to think of it you owe me a pair of those
Lol the energy to do a pair of those and I still have material. I still collect every time I see a white wall (tyre) so maybe one-day when I am relaxed I will make a pair. Crafting leather is what supported me because no one saw the vision I had, they all wanted me to go to school but I thought what the use of going to school is and learn about something that you don’t have interest in. I felt that what they were teaching me was not aligned with what I wanted to do. I work with my hands, they were just wasting my time but school taught me tolerance, perseverance and patience cause if you never went to school you won’t learn those things; something that can take three months at school might take you a whole year, they teach simple things like being tolerant and all but Kids must go to school and not be like me. I did matric though my results were “incomplete” because I didn’t write 1st or 2nd paper of IsiZulu. I went back the next year and wrote those papers and Afrikaans but I never went back to collect my results.
How did they take it at home?
They knew that I was a rebel. We would go to school and not have an idea of why we went there unlike kids of today, they know why they go to school.They have career guidance, we didn’t have those things. The family was only pissed off by the life I had chosen, I am the only one who veered off the road out of everyone at home.
How many siblings?
We are four on my Mother’s side, two girls and two boys. I’m the second born.
Message to the Reggae People for your 20thanniversary?
This one is not going to be normal, I promise you. I am on steroids lol and I hope they kick in by Friday. We need to make it big and better. I think this is the last show that I am hosting here in my yard and for free. Next gig will not be for free because DJs also need to be compensated, they come from all corners and need to be uplifted. I can’t always take money out of my pocket, even if I don’t make money from the gig it needs to sustain itself. Hopefully things will be better in 2021. Let’s just finish off 2020 and see what happens. I am looking forward to better things and the sound needs to grow, we need to play in Stadiums I’m tired of playing at small shows. I pray the almighty helps me to grow the brand.
18 October 2020 is going to be Big and Bad. – Eeka Mouse