Released in the year of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the first democratic elections in South Africa, Steve Dyer’s album Enhlizweni is a creative offering of how South Africa - a place where multiple musical energies co-exist - has shaped, and continues to shape Steve’s personal, and South African collective stories.

Greetings fellow humans. Almost all of us feel ties to the lands of our birth, and I’m no different. I was born in South Africa, a place where multiple musical energies exist in spiritual spaces, community get togethers, rituals, protests as well as dedicated performances.

As South Africa nears its 30 years of democracy we are faced with a myriad of challenges, but we are resilient. The tracks on ENHLIZWENI are a creative offering of how South Africa has shaped, and continues to shape my personal, and our collective stories.

Music in this country is most often a communal edeavour. I hope “ENHLIZWENI – song stories from my heartland” can in some way contribute, in the words of freedom fighter Steve Biko, to “the great gift (that) still has to come from Africa – giving the world a more human face”. – Steve Dyer

Steve Dyer - saxophones, flute, keyboards, treated piano, guitar, voice
Sphelelo Mazibuko - drums (tracks 1 - 8) Simz Tshabalala drums (tracks 1 - 8)
Nompumelelo Nhlapo - percussion (track 7)   Tlale Makhene - percussion (tracks 2, 7)   El Hadj Ngari Ndong - percussion (track 3)
Khola Phalatse - electric bass (tracks 1, 5, 6)
Bokani Dyer - piano (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 8) Andile Yenana - piano (tracks 2, 4, 9)
Mthunzi Mvubu - alto saxophone (tracks 1, 6, 7, 8)
Mark Fransman - bass clarinet (tracks 1, 3) Dalisu Ndlazi - acoustic bass (tracks 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9) Louis Mhlanga - electric guitar (tracks 5, 6)
Sthembiso Bhengu - trumpet (tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 9) Sydney Mavundla - trumpet (tracks 6, 7, 8)
Busi Dyer - voice (tracks 1, 5) Siya Mthembu - voice (track 10) Afrika Cele, Titi Luzipho, Joshua Pule, Vusumuzi Nhlapho - voices (tracks 4, 5, 9, 10)

All tracks composed and arranged by Steve Dyer

Produced by Steve Dyer Mixed by Keith Farquharson Mastered by Tim Lengfeld Photography by Joanne Olivier Art design by Romy Brauteseth

AfricArise Curator – Seton Hawkins