Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens - Kazet (Live)

Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens (also known as Mahlathini Nezintombi Zomgqashiyo and Mahlathini and the Girls of Mgqashiyo) were a South African mbaqanga supergroup made up of the three musical acts linked together by talent scout and record producer Rupert Bopape at the Gallo Recording Company in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1964. The group composed of the following:
The late Simon "Mahlathini" Nkabinde (1937-1999), a "powerful singer" in the basso-profundo "groaning" style.
The girl group the Mahotella Queens (1964-present), known for their fast-paced dancing and alternating between multi-part harmonies and unison vocals.
The instrumental backing team the Makgona Tsohle Band (1964-1999), led by electric lead guitarist Marks Mankwane and alto saxophonist West Nkosi.
They were successfully popular in and around South Africa 1964-72, but found international success 1987-97, notably at the 70th-birthday tribute to Nelson Mandela at London's Wembley Arena in 1988, going on to feature in many international festivals.
1964 formation
The major record labels under South Africa's apartheid era were white-owned companies with very few black artists. Historically, laws such as the Land Act of 1913 to the Group Areas Act (1950) prevented musicians from different tribal communities integrating and many were not permitted to establish themselves in the city. Consequently, making it almost impossible for most black music artists to gain recognition beyond their own tribal boundaries. During the apartheid period, black South Africans could no longer play to white audiences and white broadcasting programmers did not approve of American-influenced music. Mavuthela was instituted in 1964 as a division of the country's largest independent record label Gallo Africa to focus solely on producing music for the black South African market. It was headed by talent scout/producer Rupert Bopape, a former producer for EMI South Africa before joining Gallo Record Company. Bopabe had already had successes recording popular artists such as Alexandra Black Mambazo, the King's Messengers Quartet and female group the Dark City Sisters. Black South African producers came up with the idea of returning to the styles of acoustic African popular music and harmony singing groups, but they electrified the instruments, mixed the sexes, and added a lively 8/8 township beat. Mbaqanga music became popular amongst urban black South Africans living in the townships.
The group that later became known worldwide as Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens started as part of the team of musicians working at the Mavuthela Music Company. Rupert Bopape largely created the group from three distinct parts. He had brought with him from EMI Mahlathini (the 'Lion of Soweto'), a leading exponent of a style that was later christened groaning (a vocal style was performed by deep-voiced male singers in conjunction with five-piece female harmony groups and a backing band of instrumentalists). Another of Bopape's more successful acts was a team of female singers that would record songs under various group pseudonyms, including under the name, Mahotella Queens. The line-up of the group would consist of five singers taken from a larger pool of vocalists that included Hilda Tloubatla, Juliet Mazamisa, Ethel Mngomezulu and Francisca Mngomezulu, Mildred Mangxola, Nobesuthu Mbadu, Windy Sibeko, Mary Rabotapi (formerly of The Skylarks) and Nunu Maseko; they became the country's most popular girl group during the late 1960s - mid-1970s period. The Mahotella Queens and Mahlathini were backed by the newly formed Makgona Tsohle Band (which translates as the 'Band Who Knows Everything'), the five musicians were all former domestic workers from Pretoria - West Nkosi (saxophone), Marks Mankwane (lead guitar), Joseph Makwela (bass guitar), Vivian Ngubane (rhythm guitar) and Lucky Monama (drums). The horn section included Lemmy 'Special' Mabaso, Shadrack Piliso, Mario da Conceicao and (briefly) Spokes Mashiyane. The team of horn-blowers was expanded in the late 1960s to include Roger Xezu, Sipho Bhengu, Thomas Motshoane, David Khanyile (aka "Fastos The Great") and Sello Mmutung (better known as "Bra Sello").
In 1983, in the UK Malcolm McLaren produced his influential album Duck Rock, a project that mixed unrelated genres together, including the uncredited music of Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens. Criticised over the years by some as exploitative, it was the first album that brought what is now known as world music to a bigger audience outside of South Africa and other countries. Western musicians slowly began to incorporate various world music styles into theirs.
Wiki...

[@dzingaichakazamba]

RIP Lion of Soweto. A true giant in African music.

[@mr.ghomsi5711]

I miss him he died at age 62

[@mr.ghomsi5711]

Rip Simon team 🇿🇦

[@assdiagne1988]

Rip simon

[@instantlyapt]

I LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH

[@cherylsoundy1018]

Fantastic music to dance to!

[@cecilbrowne9724]

Brilliant

[@namithaliemendes3622]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@FOCUSTY3]

I’m sad 😢

[@FOCUSTY3]

I wish they are from Ghana 🇬🇭

[@Themaddprof]

@@FOCUSTY3 I'm happy to be on the same planet with them!

[@alberttallam9590]

South Africa🇿🇦

[@rev.franckyao3567]

Im soooo sad