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Via Afrika was a dynamic musical group that emerged in 1983, known for their unique fusion of dance beats, whistles, chants, nu-wave synths, dub bass, and ethnic rhythms. Their self-titled debut album quickly became a hit, appealing to both white pop and black African radio audiences during a time of musical segregation. Vocalist and bassist René Veldsman described the band as a "living force" that embodied themes of sex, politics, magic, and imagination, emphasizing their freedom of expression. Despite their success, they faced challenges, including being banned from the radio due to the lyrics of their song "Hey Boy," which the broadcasting authorities did not understand. The band released two albums: "Via Afrika" in 1983 and "A Scent Of Scandal" in 1984, along with several singles. Their single "Vice in Bombay" gained international airplay after being remixed in New York. However, the band disbanded in 1985. The lineup included René Veldsman on vocals and bass, Lukas Luislang (Crous) on keyboards (who passed away in April 2002), Michele Rowe as a dancer and percussionist, and Spider Wider (Kitty Cooper) on vocals and percussion.

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