Makgona Tsohle Band
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The Makgona Tsohle Band was an instrumental band that performed in the South African style of mbaqanga. The group was formed in 1963 and disbanded in 1999.
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[edit] History
The first line-up of the session band included the late Marks Mankwane on lead guitar, Joseph Makwela on bass guitar and Lucky Monama on drums, with West Nkosi (who would later become a famed music producer at Gallo Record Company) playing saxophone and pennywhistle. The group began backing a group of female dancers, the Izintombi zomGqashiyo. The dancers were replaced with female singers soon afterwards, and used various pseudonyms such as Dima Sisters, Soweto Stars and, from 1967-present, Mahotella Queens. When Rupert Bopape, a legendary talent scout at Gallo, recruited a young singer named Simon Nkabinde, the Makgona Tsohle Band discovered his deep, 'groaning' voice. Therefore, they gave him the name Mahlathini and, together with the Queens, the band became a hit, selling scores of 'mgqashiyo' singles and LPs.
In 1999, after thirty-six years together, the group disbanded; Mahlathini had died, as had Marks Mankwane soon afterwards. The Mahotella Queens decided to return to the stage and recruited new, younger members to the Makgona Tsohle Band, in tribute to the original members.
[edit] Membership
The group was led in the early 1960s by Marks Mankwane on electric lead guitar, with Joseph Makwela on bass guitar, Lucky Monama on drums, and West Nkosi on saxophone/pennywhistle. After they began to record at Gallo in 1963, the band became a part of the Mavuthela division at the company. Mavuthela was a large group of musicians and music producers. Several members joined the Makgona Tsohle Band and then left afterwards, as was the norm at Gallo. The group did not just back the Mahotella Queens and Mahlathini, but other Gallo vocal groups such as Abafana Baseqhudeni and Izintombi Zomoya. In 1971, after the break-up of the Mahotella Queens (and Mahlathini's move to EMI), the Makgona Tsohle Band began backing the replacement group, the Mahotella 'B' and West Nkosi became a producer at Gallo.
When the Mahotella Queens reformed with Mahlathini in 1983, the Makgona Tsohle Band was drawn together again. Marks Mankwane, Joseph Makwela, Lucky Monama and West Nkosi were joined by Vivian Ngubane on rhythm guitar. In the 1986 comeback (following another hiatus), Lucky Monama left the band and was replaced by Philemon Hamule. By 1990, West Nkosi had left to lead his own band. Marks Mankwane, Joseph Makwela and Philemon Hamule all remained, and Marubini Sam Jagome joined the group on rhythm guitar. Joey Mabe joined soon afterwards on keyboard/synthesizer, with Lemmy Mabaso taking West Nkosi's spot on saxophone and pennywhistle.
West Nkosi and Marks Mankwane died within six days of each other in October 1998, and Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens recorded an album in tribute to them, entitled Umuntu (1999). Joining the band for the recording was George Mangxola on lead guitar, Mzwandile David on bass guitar and Bongani Zanazo on drums. In 2001, following Mahlathini's death, the Mahotella Queens returned to the stage with their current band: Texan Thusi on lead guitar, Madoda Ntshingila on bass guitar, Regis Gizavo on accordion, Veli Shabangu on percussion and David Mirandon on drums.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens |
| Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde Mahotella Queens: Hilda Tloubatla | Nobesuthu Mbadu | Mildred Mangxola Makgona Tsohle Band: Marks Mankwane | Joseph Makwela | Lucky Monama | Vivian Ngubane | Philemon Hamule | Marubini Sam Jagome | West Nkosi | Teaspoon Ndelu |
| Discography (main article) |
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| Studio albums: Meet the Mahotella Queens (1964) | Let's Move with Makhona Zonke Band (1968) | Phezulu Eqhudeni (1975) | Umculo Kawupheli (1975) | Marriage is a Problem (1975) | Best of the Mahotella Queens (1977) | Izibani Zomgqashiyo (1977) | Menate ea Lefatse (1978) | Tsamaya Moratuoa (1980) | Ejerusalem Siyakhona (1983) | Amaqhawe Omgqashiyo (1983) | Thokozile (1986) | Paris-Soweto (1987) | Melodi Yalla (1988) | Rhythm & Art (1990) | Mbaqanga (1991) | Women of the World (1993) | Stoki Stoki (1994) | Umuntu (1999) | Sebai Bai (2001) | Bazobuya (2004) | Reign & Shine (2005) | Kazet (2006) |
| Compilations: Mathaka - Vol. 1 (1983) | Kotopo - Vol. 2 (1983) | The Best of Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens (1992) | The Best Of: The Township Idols (2003) | The Very Best of the Mahotella Queens (2005) | The Hits |
| Related articles |
| Ladysmith Black Mambazo | Mahlathini | Mahotella Queens | Makgona Tsohle Band | Mbaqanga | Isicathamiya |
