Mahlathini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mahlathini
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Simon 'Mahlathini' Nkabinde, 1988
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde |
| Born | 1937 or 1938 Newcastle, Natal, Union of South Africa |
| Died | 27 July 1999 (aged 62) Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Genres | Mbaqanga |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1964-1999 |
| Labels | Mavuthela Music Company, Satbel Record Company |
| Associated acts | Mahotella Queens, Alexandra Black Mambazo, Dark City Sisters |
Simon "Mahlathini" Nkabinde (born 1937 or 1938 – died 27 July 1999) was a famous South African mbaqanga singer. People called him the "Lion of Soweto". He was known for his very deep, growling singing style. This special "groaning" voice became a key part of mbaqanga music in the 1960s.
Mahlathini was also a very active live performer. He recorded and performed with the Mahotella Queens and the Makgona Tsohle Band. They worked together from 1964 to 1971, and then again from 1983 to 1999. Their group, Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, became famous worldwide. This happened after Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland became a huge hit.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Simon Nkabinde was born in Newcastle and grew up in Alexandra, South Africa. As a young boy, he started leading singing groups. These groups performed traditional Zulu wedding songs, like isicathamiya and mbube. By the time he was a teenager, many people admired his voice.
In the early 1950s, something strange happened to his voice. It became strained and sounded like a growl. At first, his parents thought he might be "witched." They took him to a sangoma, a traditional healer. The healer simply explained that Nkabinde was just "growing up." This made his parents feel better.
Nkabinde later joined a kwela music group called Alexandra Black Mambazo. His older brother Zeph was also in this group. Another member was Aaron "Big Voice Jack" Lerole, who created the "groaning" singing style. In the late 1950s, Nkabinde started recording music with EMI. He sang with female groups like the Dark City Sisters. His growling voice was perfect for the "groaning" style. He soon became the best singer of this style, inspiring many others.
Becoming a Professional Musician
In 1964, a music producer named Rupert Bopape moved to Gallo Record Company. He started a new music division called Mavuthela Music Company. Bopape brought many musicians with him, including Nkabinde. The main band at Mavuthela was later called the Makgona Tsohle Band. Its members included Marks Mankwane (lead guitar), Joseph Makwela (bass guitar), Vivian Ngubane (rhythm guitar), Lucky Monama (drums), and West Nkosi (producer and saxophonist). This band added a new, electric sound to mbaqanga music.
Bopape also put together a group of about ten female singers. These included Hilda Tloubatla, Juliet Mazamisa, Ethel Mngomezulu, Nobesuthu Mbadu, and Mildred Mangxola. They recorded many songs under different names. Nkabinde became the main "groaner" for Mavuthela. The most famous name for the female singers became "Mahotella Queens." With Nkabinde's powerful groaning vocals, the Mahotella Queens became very popular.
The 1960s and 1970s were a great time for Nkabinde and his groups. He had many hit songs, such as "Sithunyiwe" and "Imbodlomane." People across the country called him "Indoda Mahlathini," meaning "Mahlathini the main man." He performed thousands of concerts with the Mahotella Queens and the Makgona Tsohle Band.
In 1971, Nkabinde left Gallo-Mavuthela and joined Satbel Record Company. He formed a new group called "The Mahlathini Queens." He also had a new band, "The Mahlathini Guitar Band." He continued to be very popular throughout the 1970s. However, new music styles like soul and disco started to become more popular than mbaqanga. Nkabinde kept making mbaqanga music, but his popularity began to drop.
Worldwide Success and Later Years
By 1983, mbaqanga music started to become popular again. This was partly because of a more modern drum beat. Also, the Makgona Tsohle Band reunited, which was big news. Nkabinde and the original five Mahotella Queens (Hilda Tloubatla, Juliet Mazamisa, Ethel Mngomezulu, Nobesuthu Mbadu, and Mildred Mangxola) got back together with the Makgona Tsohle Band. Their comeback album, Amaqhawe Omgqashiyo, sold very well.
In 1986, Paul Simon released his very important album Graceland. He worked with many famous black South African musicians, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo. This album led to a huge demand for what became known as "world music" around the globe. West Nkosi, who was now a top producer at Gallo-Mavuthela, brought Nkabinde back together with three of the Mahotella Queens (Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu, and Mildred Mangxola). They wanted to meet the demand for African music overseas.
The group recorded their comeback album Thokozile in 1987. It was very successful internationally. They began touring all over the world, including the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. They performed at their own concerts and at big events like WOMAD. In France, their song "Kazet" became well-known. They also worked with the rock group Art of Noise in 1989 on their album Below the Waste.
Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens celebrated their 30th anniversary in 1994. They released the album Stoki Stoki.
Final Years and Legacy
The group performed their last live concert in 1997. Nkabinde's health had been getting worse since the early 1990s. The group faced sadness when West Nkosi, their saxophonist and producer, died in a car accident in late 1998. On the same day as Nkosi's funeral, their guitarist Marks Mankwane also passed away from complications with diabetes.
At the start of 1999, Nkabinde and the Mahotella Queens recorded their last album together, Umuntu. They dedicated it to Nkosi and Mankwane. Nkabinde's health got even worse during the making of the album. He only sang on a few of the songs. Simon "Mahlathini" Nkabinde died in Johannesburg on 27 July 1999. He passed away due to problems from diabetes.
After Nkabinde's death, the three Mahotella Queens decided to keep performing. They wanted to keep the music that Nkabinde made famous alive. They formed a new band and released an album called Sebai Bai (2001). This album honored Nkabinde and the Makgona Tsohle Band. The Queens have continued to release successful albums and perform concerts around the world.
Discography
See also
In Spanish: Mahlathini para niños
