The original band consisted of five members, three from South Africa and two from Nigeria: drummer
Louis Moholo, trumpeter/flautist
Mongezi Feza, alto saxophonist
Dudu Pukwana, tenor saxophonist Bizo Mngqikana, and guitarist/bassist Fred Coker – the latter, according to Rob Fitzpatrick in
The Guardian, "helped guide Assagai into position as the only real West African competition to the super-star firepower of Ghana's Osibisa" before Coker left Assagai to replace Spartacus R in Osibisa.
Canterbury scene keyboardist
Alan Gowen and
King Crimson percussionist
Jamie Muir were also briefly members (1971–72). The band recorded for the British label
Vertigo Records, and are thought to be "the only African or 'Black' band ever signed" by the label. Assagai's self-titled debut album was released in 1971; among the African musicians who played with the group on the recording was
Terri Quaye.
Assagai was reissued on CD by
Repertoire Records in 1994. The band's second and final album,
Zimbabwe (with cover artwork by
Roger Dean), was released later in 1971. It was re-released as LP by
Music for Pleasure label, but under a different title,
AfroRock. Both Assagai albums featured songs written by members of the British group
Jade Warrior and included guest appearances from them as well. Previously, in the 1960s Pukwana, Feza and Moholo had been members of the jazz band
The Blue Notes alongside
Chris McGregor. ==Discography==