when the producers of "king kong" received invitations to perform in europe, the south african government, believing the musical would be helpful propaganda, issued passports to african performers who otherwise would not have had opportunities to leave the country. members of jazz epistles welcomed the opportunity. most of them found the freedom and the contacts with other musicians in europe irresistible and chose exile over returning. thus many of the most adventurous strains in south african music were pursued outside its borders for several decades.