National Wake was a multiracial punk rock band in South Africa that emerged in the late 1970s in an underground commune.

National Wake

National Wake was a pioneering South African punk and new wave band formed in the late 1970s during the apartheid era. The band was notable for its racially integrated lineup, a rare occurrence in a time of strict segregation.

Formed in 1979 in Johannesburg, National Wake consisted of Ivan Kadey (guitar, vocals), Gary Rathbone (bass, vocals), Punka Khoza (saxophone), and Michael Curtis (drums). The band's music reflected their anti-apartheid stance, and their lyrics often carried strong social and political messages. National Wake split in 1982 just after putting out their solitary release in 1981, which sold approximately 700 copies before being withdrawn under government pressure