Amazulu

Amazulu were a predominantly female British ska and new wave band who had a string of reggae inflected UK hits in the early to mid-1980's.

The band (whose name was taken from the Zulu word amaZulu, which trans

Amazulu were a predominantly female British ska and new wave band who had a string of reggae inflected UK hits in the early to mid-1980's.

The band (whose name was taken from the Zulu word amaZulu, which translates to "the people from Heaven") was comprised of: lead singer Annie Ruddock, guitarist Margo Sagov, bassist Clare Kenny, percussionist Sharon Bailey, saxophonist Margo Beach, and the sole male member, Nardo Bailey on drums. Managed by former X-Ray Spex and Adam & the Ants promoter Falcon Stuart, Amazulu's first single "Cairo" was a modest success in the UK and reached the lower end of the charts. After an appearance on the British sit-com The Young Ones in 1984 performing their single "Moonlight Romance", the band gained a wider audience and achieved greater success with the release of their July 1985 single "Excitable", which reached the UK Top 20. The band's success was followed by other hits, including; "Don't You Just Know It", "Too Good To Be Forgotten", and "Montego Bay", which was a minor hit in the USA. Their self-titled sole full-length album was released on Island Records in 1986.