Tidal Waves Bio

Tidal Waves Bio: Tidal Waves is a South African band from Yeoville that plays an eclectic blend of “Afro-roots-rock-dub-reggae.”

They are largely recognized as South Africa’s hardest working reggae band, performing from Oppikoppi to Pretoria, Cape Town to Potchefstroom. The band is located in Yeoville, Johannesburg, and hails from Klerksdorp, a little dustbowl gold mining town about two hours south of Johannesburg.

• Years Active

  1964 – 1967 (2 years)

• Founded In

  Roseville, Macomb County, Michigan, United States

• Members

  • Robert Slap

Tidal Waves create and play original reggae music influenced by traditional African music such as maskandi and mbaqanga. The sound is authentic roots reggae with rock, ska, and blues influences. Their lyrics, like all good reggae, are socially conscious and uplifting, railing against the government for failing to honor the Rainbow Nation and imploring their fans to fight for integration and one love. Other songs express strong anti-war views, while others mourn the sad stories of urban South African poverty and the struggle to make a living as a musician in the global capitalist market.