Mahotella Queens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mahotella Queens |
|---|
The Mahotella Queens are a South African singing group that is noted for their three-part harmonies, Mbaqanga township music and fast-paced mqashiyo dancing.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] The early years
The Mahotella Queens, originally, was just a recording name, with Gallo Record Company bringing together several different female session singers. Five of these usually sung the main harmonies. The Queens' members were studio singers before 1963, with many (including resident lead singer Hilda Tloubatla) having recorded backing tracks for Gallo artists.
The group was formed by Rupert Bopape, a songwriter and master talent scout at Gallo. Bopape first invited along 23-year old Tloubatla after hearing her singing at the South African Broadcasting Corporation, closely followed by 19 year-old Mildred Mangxola. When the group was complete, Bopape combined the group with the 'king of the Groaners', Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde, and the Makgona Tsohle Band, a Mbaqanga instrumental band.
Throughout the 1960s and early 70s, Gallo usually selected five singers from their stable of contemporary female groups, and Tloubatla was (for the most part) present at recordings.
The very first line-up of the Mahotella Queens, in which they were led by Tloubatla, had their first hit with "Thoko Ujola Nobani" in 1964 (re-recorded in 1993 as "Thoko") which introduced mbaqanga, a type of music that fused Western, blues, marabi (South African jazz) and gospel music with their own unique style of mqashiyo, the Queens no-nonsense fast-paced dancing combined with the leaps, grunts and powerful vocals of Mahlathini. The group would have hits throughout the 1960's on Gallo's Motella label with songs such as "Sengikhala Ngiyabaleka", "Sikhululekele", "Uyavuth' Umlilo" and "Umculo Kawupheli". Many of these songs were re-recorded in 1988 for their international album Thokozile.
[edit] Split
In 1971, the group split because the Mahotella Queens' members had families and children to care for. The Queens retired, or rather, went on maternity leave, and wouldn't return until four years later. The Makgona Tsohle Band provided male Mbaqanga group Abafana Baseqhudeni with rhythm, whilst Mahlathini went to EMI to record with two groups; the Mahlathini Girls, his own backing singers, and Ndlondlo Bashise - "The Mahlathini Guitar Band". West Nkosi, the saxophone/pennywhistle extraordinare of the Makgona Tsohle Band became a music producer at Gallo, where he most famously brought an unknown choral group to the label in 1972 - the ever-popular choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
The Mahotella Queens re-united in 1975, perhaps for something of a publicity stunt (footage of their comeback is contained on the VHS and DVD release Mahlathini, Mahotella Queens and Makgona Tsohle Band: Mbaqanga, at its Best!, GMPV 9). The group then released their first album without Mahlathini, Marriage is a Problem (reissued in 1990).
After this was over, Gallo brought five of the 'minor' Queens back to record with Abafana Baseqhueni, cashing in on the comeback success. They recorded two albums, Izibani Zomgqashiyo and Tsamaya Moratuoa, recording under the name Mahotella "B". Fans were not pleased, and the B Queens split soon afterwards.
All Gallo female mqashiyo groups recorded under the name of Mahotella Queens following this experience. This practice only ended in around 1983.
[edit] World popularity
In 1983, West Nkosi reunited three of the original Queens for full-time recording with Mahlathini; Hilda Tloubatla (lead vocals), Nobesuthu Shawe Mbadu (alto) and Mildred Mangxola (tenor). With Mahlathini joining them again as their lead singer - and the Makgona Tsohle Band (which included two new members) - the group picked up from where they left off, creating their trademark Mbaqanga music, with additional heavy drum beats and synthesizer. After another hiatus, the group hit platinum with their internationally available record Thokozile, recording under the name Mahlathini and the Mahotella "A". Outside of South Africa, many people suddenly became drawn to this music - the driving beat of mqashiyo (the "indestructible beat"). Over the next 15 years, they would have hits with Paris-Soweto, Mbaqanga, Rhythm and Art, Stoki Stoki and Umuntu.
[edit] Sadness and continuation
Mahlathini's health had been steadily growing worse since the mid-1990's, and the group delivered their last live performance as a whole group in 1997. A tragedy struck soon afterwards; their co-producer and former band member West Nkosi was killed in a car crash in 1998. On the very day they buried Nkosi, their lead guitarist Marks Mankwane died. The group spent quite a long time off, and the greatest tragedy to hit the group occurred. Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde died in June 1999 as a result of a diabetic condition. Not knowing what to do, the Queens stopped singing. The Mahotella Queens took to mourning, and decided to retire from the music industry.
Four months after the death of their lead singer and close friends, the Queens returned to singing, performing and recording, in hope of keeping Mahlathini's spirit alive. In 2001, they recorded the highly successful Sebai-Bai, which included a vocal performance of the track 'Masibambaneni', a song they originally performed with Mahlathini seven years earlier. Other tracks included the title song (named after a young Sotho girl), "Dlhaya Mhunu" (which pleads with people not to murder others) and a re-recording of "Dilika Town Hall". Dedicating the album to Mahlathini and the old Makgona Tsohle Band, the Mahotella Queens had formed a new backing band: Victor Mkhize on lead guitar, Madoda Ntshingila on bass guitar, Makhosonke Mbuyisa on keyboard, Regis Gizavo on accordion, and Theko Masitenyane on drums.
On 31 August 2005, the Queens' released Reign & Shine, an album–their third since Mahlathini's death–that focused on vocal singing and only featured the backing band sporadically. Backing them with instruments were Texan Thusi on lead guitar, Madoda Ntshingila on bass guitar and Veli Shabangu on percussions. The album was a moral recording, with messages of ending child rape ("Muntu Wesilisa" - Listen, Men), begging for a cure for HIV-Aids ("Saphel' Isizwe" - Disease All Over the Nation) and asking children to obey traditional beliefs ("Siyancela" - We Are Asking You).
[edit] Touring
[edit] History
The Mahotella Queens have been touring since the 1960s and, with male 'groaners' such as Robert Mbazo Mkhize and their long-term lead singer Mahlathini, have sold out shows in South Africa, the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Their international touring career started in 1988, beginning with concerts in the United Kingdom (most notably a performance for Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday in Wembley Stadium) and North America.
[edit] Today
The Queens completed a tour of Britain as the support act for Ladysmith Black Mambazo, which finished June 10 2006. Whilst their guitarists did not travel with them for the tour, the Queens brought along their successful percussionist and producer Veli Shabangu. The Queens toured France, Germany and Asia, with the complete backing band, from June 26 - July 23 2006. The group headlined WOMAD 2006, which was held over three days (July 28 - July 31 2006), singing signature songs such as Hamba Phepha Lami and Kazet.
[edit] Membership
[edit] Mahotella Queens
The Mahotella Queens, in the 1960s, usually consisted of five female singers that were pulled from other Gallo artists. Hilda Tloubatla, Mildred Mangxola, Nunu Maseko, Ethel and Francesca Mngomezulu and Nobesuthu Mbadu began recording under various pseudonyms such as Soweto Stars, Izintombi Zomgqashiyo, and Mahotella Queens. When Gallo reformed the group with a completely new membership after 1971, the members included Emily Zwane, Beatrice Ngcobo, Thandi Radebe and Thandi Nkosi. In 1983, three original Queens (Tloubatla, a Sotho, Mangxola, a Xhosa, and Mbadu, a Zulu) were brought back to record with Mahlathini and the Makgona Tsohle Band.
