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Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens ..... again

Submitted by Roanman on Sun, 09/16/2012 - 21:12

 

We have never, up until this instant, posted twice on the same band.

I'm doing it today because the tune I was looking for when I wrote the original post for Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens was nowhere to be found.

I finally found it.

One of my favorite bands of all time, Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens helped invent the Mbaqanga sound of the Soweto townships in the late 60's through the late 80's and were it's greatest practitioners.

They were really three distinct outfits in one, as producer Rupert Bopape assembled the Makgona Tsohle Band (the band that can do anything) who at the time were South Africa’s premier studio outfit, with the Mahotella Queens and "The Lion of Soweto, Simon “Mahlathini” Nkabinde greatest of South Africa’s “groaning style” singers.

This is Marks Mankwane, one of popular music’s all time innovative guitarists playing lead guitar, Vivian Ngubane (I think) playing rhythm guitar, Joseph Makwela on bass, Lucky Monama on drums.  I don’t have the keyboards figured out.  

The Mahotella Queens are Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola.

And of course that’s the late, great Mahlathini groaning away.

Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens.

Lilizela Milizeli.

Which, loosley translated, means get down Mama it's time to rock.