1994 – 2024 OUR MUSICAL MISSION

1994 - South Africa : Our story begins when Nelson MANDELA becomes President of the new South Africa. Music pioneers Lennox TOM and Barney RATTLE meet and begin to record and produce numerous albums with artists from the townships of Southern Africa. Rattle, an audio visual technician, raised in a musical background, and, inspired by MoTown and Jamaican music, spends six years working alongside musicians in the townships producing reggae, township dance (umbhaqanga) and traditional African rhythms,  harmonies, gospel and acapella. "We were working in the ghettos and were the first to start numerous campaigns bringing Tourism into the townships in the late 90's with well over 100 live concerts in Cape Town and the downtown district too", Rattle says.

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1996 - 2001 During this period we built two studios , three rehearsal rooms , recorded over 300 songs , released 11 Albums and made four music videos.  We also operated two vehicles busing tourists into the townships for shows , helped open a township restaurant and launch a model agency. We also officially launched 'Intsholo Skolo' a music school for youngsters in the Townships.

2001 - RATTLE took the music to Ibiza, driven by the ongoing desire to find a way to bring the music to the mainstream music market and with the help of Producer and DJ Andy Seidler, remixed and released an album under the brand of 'China White' the world famous nightclub. And also, Kunjani Ibiza Meets Africa. He says "re mixing our music from the townships to fit into western culture, because" he continues, "it was the only way to find acceptance within the elite group of wealthy partygoers who generally listened to Ibiza Chill Out or Dance music".  It was a natural way to find a route into market and increase awareness of our mission to take our music to the world.

2005 - Collaborations began with ABAVUKI a group of musicians from Langa Township. They fuse Marimba with Brass and vocals, and are setting out on a mission to bring African stories to the world.  We went on to record three Albums with ABAVUKI the youngest member of which was mid-teens when the band was formed which is now one of the most prominent traditional bands of Southern Africa

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2006 - RATTLE produced and realised EVOLUTION, with help from Jason Orozco, a concept album based on Darwin’s theory of evolution and created a stage show which performed both in Cape Town and in London; some of the Songs and a VIDEO are featured throughout AFRICA SONGBOOK. Aditionally, with remixes from Stanley Bregeot (DJ Stan-Ley) well known throughout the club scene in Paris and London.

2008 - ABAVUKI and RATTLE, with the help of Jason Orozco and Giancarlo Morrocco, recorded, produced and released MO TOWNSHIP (Africa Got Soul) a unique Album of famous soul standards from the MoTown era with classic songs by The Temptations, Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson.  This again was a unique way to bring our music into the public’s mainstream. RATTLE then reached out to MIDGE URE and it was released in conjunction with a BBC Radio 4 program. ABAVUKI went on to travel abroad to play in various countries including China, Spain and all the biggest festivals in Europe.

2011 - We released a compilation of classic African Dance Tracks with the support of African DJs living in Europe and most notably Dele Sosimi and Stanley Bregeot (DJ Stan-Ley) who was the man behind the music for ChinaWhite nightclub. It was a collaboration with Artists/DJs from Central and West Africa, too incl -DJ Dino Moran - DJ SK95 - DJ Stan-Ley and Deep London Records - Deep Ya'll - Darque and Odidi Belle.

2014 - RATTLE arranged an event in London for the South African Embassy, Freedom Day celebrations which mark the day Nelson Mandela was released from jail and the end of apartheid. It was at this show that RATTLE met Jazz Pioneer DON LAKA who has shaped South African music throughout the apartheid era working with some of the biggest names to come out of South Africa such as Brenda Fassie, Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela.

2015 - RATTLE produced and promoted shows in London at famous jazz spots such as the 606 CLUB, THE VERDICT in Brighton, and also ST JAMES THEATRE in London for the release of AFRO CHOPIN in KWAAI JAZZ style by DON LAKA.

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2016 - DON LAKA led a movement to lobby the South African music establishment particularly the South Africa Broadcasting Company (SABC) to address the imbalance of local music airplay which was a hangover from Apartheid. It was successfully changed to benefit local musicians and composers who now enjoy 80% local content. 

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2023 - October 2023 - RATTLE produces and promotes shows for DON LAKA at venues across the UK including London, Cardiff, Brighton, Manchester, Bristol and Cambridge. With additional support from Brand South Africa, SAMPRA and The South African High Commission. Above are some video clips of the shows.

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2025 - New releases from LENNOX T (South Africa) and FANISI BAND (East Africa) - TV and Live Projects coming