Mahlathini

Simon 'Mahlathini' Nkabinde, 1988

Simon 'Mahlathini' Nkabinde (1938 - July 27, 1999) was a South African mbaqanga singer. Known as the "Lion of Soweto" Nkabinde was the acknowledged originator of the deep-voiced, basso-profundo "groaning" style and was perhaps the most distinguished mgqashiyo (the indestructible beat, a vocal mbaqanga style) male singer. Nkabinde was also a very active live performer in South Africa, recording and performing with the Mahotella Queens and the Makgona Tsohle Band from 1964 to 1971. After several minor 1970s and early '80s comebacks with both the Queens and Makgona Tsohle, Nkabinde was propelled into international stardom during the wake of Paul Simon's Graceland (1987) album in the supergroup Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens.

Early career and life

Nkabinde was born in Alexandra township, in South Africa, in 1938. As a young boy, Nkabinde began leading isicathamiya and mbube choirs at traditional Zulu wedding ceremonies. By the time he was a teenager, Nkabinde's voice was much admired: however, during the early 1950s, his voice became strained and was reduced to a growl. Initially, Nkabinde's rural parents thought he had been "witched", and took him to a sangoma. When the healer provided the simple explanation that Nkabinde was only "growing up", Nkabinde's parents put their minds at rest. Nkabinde himself joined the kwela group Alexandra Black Mambazo (from which the Ladysmith choir would later take its name), also featuring his older brother Zeph. In the mid 1950s, Nkabinde joined EMI and began recording with female artists such as the Dark City Sisters and the Flying Jazz Queens. His growling vocal became known as "groaning", and was to inspire a whole generation of groaners (none of whom outlasted Nkabinde).

Professional career

In 1964, talent scout and black music producer Rupert Bopape recruited Nkabinde for commercial recording at Gallo Record Company, recording as part of Gallo's "black music" division Mavuthela Music Company. Bopape paired him with Mavuthela's house band, the mbaqanga instrumental section Makgona Tsohle Band, who have been credited with inventing the mbaqanga style in the early 1960s by combining the then-popular styles of music marabi and kwela. Makgona Tsohle comprised several locally famous musicians including West Nkosi (saxophone) and Marks Mankwane (lead guitar) (both Nkosi and Mankwane were not just musicians. Both became producers, managers and arrangers at Mavuthela from the 1970s onwards). Bopape then formed a group of female singers, collected from the session team of musicians of Gallo's Mavuthela division. Five women usually sung the main harmonies, and the name Mahotella Queens was penned.

Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Nkabinde, the Mahotella Queens and the Makgona Tsohle Band would have hit songs throughout South Africa, such as early recordings of tracks that brought them to international attention in the 1980s. These included "Umculo Kawupheli" ("No End to Music", later recorded as "Sibuyile") and "Sithunyiwe" ("We Have Been Sent", later recorded as "Thokozile"). Despite countless hits throughout South Africa and massively successful touring stints, Nkabinde fell out with Bopape over his treatment of the group in 1971 and joined rival recording studio EMI. The majority of the original Mahotella Queens also left Mavuthela-Gallo during the early 1970s, and joined rival groups such as Izintombi Zesimanjemanje and the Dark City Sisters. As a result, an entirely new group of Queens was formed to replace the original members. Replacing Mahlathini as the Queens' groaner was Robert Mbazo Mkhize.

In 1975, three original Queens (Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola) returned to the group, as did Nkabinde and the entire Makgona Tsohle Band to produce the successful Marriage is a Problem. Nkabinde recorded only sporadically for Gallo before returning to EMI, continuing to record with his backing new vocalists and the Mahlathini Guitar Band. Tloubatla, Mbadu and Mangxola likewise left the Mahotella Queens to return to rival groups. Towards the latter part of the 1970s, soul and disco styles were beginning to take over from mbaqanga as the most popular form of music, though both the Queens and Nkabinde continued to churn out material. Mbaqanga and mgqashiyo was, however, largely ignored in favour of Western-orientated material. Black South African pioneers of this new music included Mpharanyana, Ray Phiri and session team The Cannibals.

Comeback

By 1983, mbaqanga was slowly being revived after having almost fallen out of favour. This was due to the addition of a more modern drum beat and the highly publicised reunion of the Makgona Tsohle Band (see Makgona Tsohle Band reunion section for more info). Nkabinde and the original five Mahotella Queens - Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu, Mildred Mangxola, Juliet Mazamisa and Ethel Mngomezulu - were reunited with the Makgona Tsohle Band. Their comeback album, Amaqhawe Omgqashiyo, sold very well, but the Queens once more left the business after a few more reunion releases. In their absence, Nkabinde managed to record a multitude of successful releases with the male vocal trio Amaswazi Emvelo.

Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, 1988. (L to r): Hilda Tloubatla, Mahlathini, Nobesuthu Mbadu, Mildred Mangxola.

In 1986, Nkabinde once more reunited with three of the original Mahotella Queens: Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola, as well as the Makgona Tsohle Band. The band recorded the album Thokozile to great international success, particularly after Paul Simon's collaboration with Ladysmith Black Mambazo on his Graceland album and tour. South African music was introduced to the world. In France, the group became known with the single Kazet. The entire group contributed to the hit single Yebo! in 1989, in a collaboration with British group The Art of Noise. Nkabinde's hits with Amaswazi Emvelo from albums such as Utshwala Begazati (1985) and Indodemnyama (1987) were repackaged for the international audience on the Shanachie 1990 compilation, You're Telling Tales. Nkabinde would continue to collaborate with Amaswazi Emvelo until the early 1990s.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mahlathini and the Queens toured the United States, Europe and Asia with success. They celebrated their 30th anniversary in 1994 with the album Stoki Stoki (issued internationally on Shanachie Records in 1996).

End of an era

The group delivered their last live performance in 1997. Nkabinde's health had worsened in the late 1990s, and the group recorded their last album together, Umuntu, in January 1999, following the deaths of band members Marks Mankwane and West Nkosi. On July 27, 1999, Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde died of a diabetes-related illness.

The Mahotella Queens decided to return to help keep the music that Nkabinde had popularized alive. Forming a new backing band, the Mahotella Queens continue to record and perform, and paid tribute to Nkabinde and the original Makgona Tsohle Band on their critically acclaimed album Sebai Bai (2001). The three Queens have since released successful releases such as Bazobuya (2004), Reign & Shine (2005) and Siyadumisa (Songs of Praise) (2007).

Discography

See also

• Culture of South Africa
• Mahotella Queens
• Makgona Tsohle Band
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Sources

• Mbaqanga - Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens
• Amuzine - African Music Magazine - 31 October 2000