Selekta Massive The Self Proclaimed South African Reggae Ambassador
l have established myself as an authority in this genre and niche. – Selekta Massive
Standing at 1.98m tall, with a massive collection of 100 exclusive Southern African Reggae Dubplate Collection, Mixes, Blog Posts and Radio Shows, Selekta Massive, the self appointed Southern African Reggae Ambassador has made a monumental contribution to the culture. The amalgamation of all this reggae activism work under one banner and vehicle called Massive Sound System, was inevitable.
“Soundsystem seems to be the best vehicle to combine all my reggae activism under one umbrella. I am of the view that contemporary reggae is a finished and complete product that needs packaging, packing and marketing. Through the sound system l am able to start a commercial enterprise of selling dubplates. I can produce and sell my own music, l can venture into online broadcasting and already blogging under the Massive soundSystem. I need to have consistent identity and niche appeal across all platforms.”
Massive Sound System, based in the Eastern Cape, South Africa began operating as a sound officially in 2018. It was a transition from DJ to a one man Sound System. He carried over the name Massive – a subtle and affectionate reference to his height – which he used when he was broadcasting at Radio Grahamstown. Used interchangeably, Massive Sound System became an extension of Selekta Massive.
“I have been broadcasting Reggae for two decades in different Eastern Cape Community radios as a result I am a blogger and broadcaster as well as a self appointed Southern African reggae ambassador. I have, since after so many years in SA reggae circles, noted that our reggae content is quality and internationaly appealing, through my work as Massive sound l hope to connect the quality product with consumers. l also worked for Radio Netherlands as freelance while studying there in 2010; then for SABC radio station based in Bisho called Tru FM as a producer. I soon found my family with the hosts of reggae show, legendary radio host who is the first person to play reggae radio show at Tru FM for 28 years. I was a regular guest presenting Mzantsi reggae vibes gig guide and tidbits live and telephonically.”
Massive sound System is very biassed to Southern African Reggae offering, affectionately known as Mzansi Reggae. He started collecting CDs and now, over the years, has managed to create close relationships with a lot of people in the Reggae scene.
“I do take international dubs but African dubs and African indigenous languages and voices is what l go for before anything else. If l procure an international Dubplate it is usually a Southern African artist abroad or an international collaboration, that is how biased l am.”
Selekta Massive believes that the Dubplate collection in South Africa is relatively new but can unleash a stream of revenue for artists. He advocates for artists not to be made to record dubs for free, because that is an income stream for artists.
“Financial transactions are necessary in every way so artists can benefit and not suffer. In the near future l would like to act as Dubplate agent connecting reggae artists to international Dubplate buyers.”
The Reggae Ambassador grew up surrounded by the sounds of Reggae at Ikwezi (rising star) a small township next to Ngangelizwe township, the first township in Mthatha. Ikwezi an isiXhosa name that means “morning star or Rising star” was built in 1978 by the Bantustan government and for some reason, it was a hub for reggae music.
In the early 1990 there was an outburst and over exposure of reggae for us as youths. In my street alone, one lady, Sis Funeka loved Gregory Isaac’s; three streets away, Bro Siyabu Mabusela used to play Burning Spear live in his taxi. We could hear the boom sound four streets away.
Later one of our own, Ras Vuyo of Ghetto Sound left for Cape Town and came back with 100 Reggae cassettes, some overdubs and some original cassettes. Some time later, at high school we used to exchange and barter music cassettes with fellow Reggae dub loving classmates. Exchange on Fridays, copy to Tdk cassettes and return to owner on Monday. That is how I learnt about, lroy, Uroy, Steel Pulse, Dr Alimantado, Dennis Brown and Wailers.
When I went to varsity l had all Bob Marley and Wailers original cassettes. I was visiting record bars and whenever l got some money, I ordered from Revolver Records and collected from the post office. When i came to Joburg l made sure l visited Jah Crucial to buy and he made it easy when he got a landline, we could then order via telephone and have it delivered by post.
We grew up exposed to a whole lot of reggae in Western Cape thanks to Revolver Records who also distributed to Musica. We knew British sounds like Steel Pulse, Ub40, LKJ, Third World, Bitty McClean etc. We also knew good bands like Black Uhuru, Bob Marley – Legend was a daily diet especially the cassette. In the early 1990 s we had ghetto youth who did not like reggae but were great fans of Shabba and Yellowman. They helped us go deep in dancehall. We also had a reggae radio show at Radio Transkei with a DJ called Ed Mangxaba, the first person to advocate for reggae at Radio Transkei and he organised Eric Donaldson’s visit to Port St Johns around 1990-1992. I became the second person after him who played reggae on radio for more than 10 years.
Massive’s passion for Reggae continued to grow and when he was approached to do a Reggae show at a Campus radio, Unitra Community radio in 1998, he could not resist and his broadcasting journey began.
Joe Manciya came to my room requesting a few reggae CDs to play in his newly established reggae show and ended up recruiting me to join Unitra Community Radio as a reggae show presenter.
He went on to stay for five years at Unitra Community Radio between 1999-2005 and then moved on to Radio Grahamstown between 2006 -2015. For a 3 hour weekly show on both stations. Times changed and so has the music, but most people are still nostalgic of the days gone by and this is what Selekta Massive considers to be affecting progress.
We have a challenge; there are people who decided to get stuck in the 70s and 80s style of Reggae. They will always take you back to Bob, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer etc while we have progressed to listen to music produced by grandchildren of these artists.
The way we listen to music has also changed, and this has had an impact on the culture and a great cause of concern for Massive.
The digital Era has caused a decline in dancehall gatherings where we could also meet, share reggae and quench our thirst for music. Reggae is still a social outcast associated with Rasta. Although It is through this association and relationships that Reggae has been preserved. It’s a symbiotic relationship. It is always a struggle as reggae is shut down from mainstream media, TV, radio and print. I am concerned about this as it is an unfair treatment of the genre. Instead of fighting it l rather focus on choosing alternative platforms online and also consolidate my working relations with other existing platforms to push the passion.
Other than being the Ambassador, Selekta Massive describes himself as a student of music and a keen follower of Reggae and here he shares what he has learnt so far.
Yeah, the learning never stop, l have gained a lot of knowledge but would also like to know how can we make some of the best revered international reggae artists like Pumi Maduna, Ras Dumisani, Vido Jelashe, Lumodi, Nkulee Dube, Zorro, Thuthukani Cele be loved and respected at home. I still would like to learn how to make our reggae music mainstream, make it commercially appealing and part of daily music consumption without compromise on quality and content.
The one thing that really stands out and impressive about Massive is how he always push Reggae, Artists, Producers and their music of all regions, genres with no favouritism, through his social networks. It is the one thing that he believes he was destined to do.
Reggae music had this magnetic hold on me from an early age. I want to believe it was in a way designed or destined. I have since noticed in my experience how reggae is sidelined in mainstream media but also learnt that while 99 doors are closed one is open. Community Radio is that one door and as the door keeper, l must let in as many as possible. We have a complete package, South African Reggae that is already selling as an export but not consumed inside the country. We need to connect the product and l see myself as an essential cog in that system. This is destined.
He has put out a number of mixes as a Selector, and now as Massive Sound the focus has shifted to Artist mixes. His mixes have circulated a lot via social sharing mediums in his area, like back in the days when they shared cassette tapes.
I had mixes that went the route of circulation in local circles but l love the one l did for Crosby titled Perilous mix. It’s got quality chunes, jingles and dubplates and it’s a culmination of a long good working partnership with Crosby. It actually led me to an idea of releasing regular artist mixes and despite challenges, l have released with Itesman, Crosby, Reign Africa and in the pipeline l have Lord Harmony, Dillinger, Botanist and Advocate ldzemabwe. It’s been over 10 years doing mixes l lost track of quantity. l must admit penetration is hard, some artist included don’t support but a mix is a labour of love. Most mixes are done at least five times or more before release. Now l am connected to radio reggae presenters who play my mixes on air, call me to provide reggae reviews and share my mixes with audience. This is where i think l am mostly wanted.
Broadcasting and Blogging
Selekta Massive began broadcasting two decades ago but now he is considering hosting his own show online. Currenly, the biggest community radio station is 200 km away from his home, and is exploring possibilities of letting him host their reggae show remotely. Selekta Massive will return to the airwaves yet again.
He hosted a Reggae Show, Zion Train on Grahamstown FM when he joined an existing host, Lava Masinda, a Rasta brethren who took me under his wing for five years and we hosted the show together until he left. Massive then continued alone for another 6 years. One of the highlight of the show was when they hosted Linton Kwesi Johnson.
Massive also had a blog called Umzabalazo, Struggle Online, which is no longer active, with the last blog post in 2012. The blog documented the best South African Albums between 2000 -2012; had a review on Jah Seed’s No Retreat No Surrender Album; captured the Live Eastern Cape Reggae Coastal Tour 2010 and many more Reggae news from the Eastern Cape and beyond, He continues to blog on a new site called Azania Reggae Vibes and continues to document Reggae music.
Juggling between DJing, Blogging, running a Sound, providing Radio Station with Mixes, contributing to weekly Reggae shows is not an easy task, but the Reggae Ambassodor has got a phrase that gets him going:
“My slogan is simple, l may not reach all these destinations but l want music to reach. That is why l push.
Khaya Thonjeni The Reggae Ambassador
The man behind Massive Selekta, the reggae ambassador, is Khaya Thonjeni, a happily married family man, with four boys who keep him busy with school, sport and love overdose. Although his partner is not a keen follower of Reggae, she supports his efforts and the Music is slowly rubbing off on the boys. He is an independent journalist, storyteller, patriot, isiXhosa language loving man.
He is a man who would like to combine all his efforts and one day hopes to have a Reggae TV show where he can travel and interview different artists and in the process record dubplates. He is convinced that if he work with like minded people they can sell this idea to a main stream broadcasting channel like multichoice
That would be the ultimate service l could offer to this genre. Reggae music in this country was great, it can be great once more. The musicians have done their bit but we need catalysts and caonnectors who will package this product and connect it to the masses.
Listen to the latest Mix from Massive Sound