When "Nelson Mandela" by the Special AKA reached number 9 in the UK singles chart in March 1984. In South Africa Nelson Mandela was still in prison, and wasn't to be released until some six years later on the 11th of February 1990. It would be four years before the openly racist system of Apartheid (racial segregation) was finally ended in April 1994.

To be caught with that Special AKA single in your possesion by the secret police in 1984 in South Africa meant serious, serious trouble, not only was that record banned, but so was any release on the multi-racial Two-Tone Ska label, leading to a virtual ban on all Ska records....a music form that was seen by the then racist regime as "unpleasant multi-racial movement."

So for a multiracial Ska band to exist and flourish in South Africa is a celebration of spirit and determination!

THE STORY SO FAR... According to murmurs on the streets, The Rudimentals are paving the way to a new South African sound. They have blended the essential, tried and trusted elements of Ska with both rural and urban African music. With its roots still firmly planted in the Jamaican dance halls of the 60's, the band have fused ingredients of the local...like Zimbabwean cultural music and Goema, with the familiar back beat of Ska. This contemporary combination makes the music both accessible and fresh. The wicked final product being African Ska or more recently described Afro-Ska.

The founding members were bass player, Barry Clausen, guitarist, Etienne Harris, drummer, Duane Heydenreych and keyboard player, Milandro Mapenga. This crew met with Zimbabwean talent Teboho (Teboes) Maidza, a born and bred artist who learned a trick or two from performing with the likes of Andy Brown and Oliver Madzukuzi. Out of this highly talented gathering rose The Rudimentals.

They took on a three-piece brass section, from The University of Cape Town: Simon Bates (Masters graduate) as saxophonist, Jody Engelbrecht as trumpeter and Ross McDonald as trombonist. At the same time the band parted ways with keyboard player Milandro and found the skilful Dirk Meerkotter as replacement keys player.

The band released it’s first CD “More Fire” to the masses in South Africa, in October 2003 topping the South African Rock Digest charts and their first single, “Gangsta”, enjoying extensive radio airplay on both national and regional radio stations and also topped the MP3 charts, for most downloaded song. “Gangsta” managed to hold that position for seven consecutive weeks. The hit song “Noh TV” won a National Bronze Stone award for best music video, in that same year. In 2004, they were voted “Best Reggae and Ska Band” in the country, by the nationally read Blunt Magazine.

In the course of 2003 a ninth member joined The Rudimentals, in the form of ex-Louie R and The Jive guitarist, Michael Levy, filling the slot of lead guitarist. However, late 2004 saw the departure of long time Rudimental founder member and close friend, Barry Clausen, exchanging his rude boy apparel for greener pastures. With no time to waste and a succession of upcoming shows a new face was added to the line-up. Six times National Freestyle skateboarding champion and legend, Errol Strachan (AKA Bong), was added to The Rudimentals as a replacement for Clausen.

In 2006 The Rudimentals released the second CD, entitled “Set It Proper”, produced by trombone player Ross McDonald. The new CD fuses Ska, Reggae, Dub, Dancehall, Rock, African Mbaquanga and Jazz into what is now truly termed Afro-Ska, according to the latest reviews. The band are regularly touring and headlining National Festivals and are continuing to gain huge positive response to the groundbreaking sound of Afro-Ska.

The same year Afro-Ska made a step forward when The Rudimentals signed to Moon Ska World. The bands debut album "More Fire" will be released in early 2007.