National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

The role of music in the struggle against South Africa's infamous apartheid regime has been well-documented. From the racist system's imposition in 1948 to its final dismantling in 1994, South African musicians of all stripes sang out against apartheid. Jazz, township music, pop, reggae and even hip-hop were all pressed into service in support of racial equality and justice, and music became an integral part of the struggle. But while the stories of South African musicians like Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Vusi Mahlasela and others are well-known, a recent radio documentary explores a forgotten chapter in the history of South African music-the role of punk rock.

Originally broadcast in the Czech Republic, the audio documentary Waking The Nation sketches out the fascinating and often overlooked story of punk rock, ska and post-punk music as it played out against the background of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa in the late '70s and 1980s. Host Craig Duncan interviews a variety of South African punk musicians, activists and scencesters about their lives and music, and talks to documentary film makers Keith Jones and Deon Maas, whose upcoming documentary film, Punk In Africa, explores the history and legacy of the South African punk scene.

Waking The Nation was orginally presented May 5th, 2009 on Cesky Rozhlas Radio Wave the Czech public radio station for youth culture and alternative music. You can listen to the original radio documentary at Radio Wave's archive -- click the programme entitled Friday Ripple 15.05.2009, or listen below.