I’ve had quite a few requests for some Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens. You’ll recognize the South African mbaqanga sound if you tuned in a few posts ago. It’s Zulu pop music that came out of the townships of South Africa’s big cities during the 1970s. (That’s only sort of true. It’s been around since the 60s but mbaqanga as you might know it – in its electric, energized form – wasn’t too popular until the mid-70s.) Mahlathini was right in there with the first of them to popularize the style and was the most well-known voices (or groaners) of mbaqanga.

The Mahotella Queens call their particular flavour of mbaqanga mqashiyo. I read something that likened them to a Southern African version of the Supremes. This seems right on point since their synchronized dancing and harmonized backup vocals really remind me of the soul train ladies from the American 60s.

Mahlathini didn’t really get popular outside of South Africa until the mid-1980s when a track that he released on a South African musical sampler got some attention in the US. Following that he went on tour with the Mahotella Queens and they all attained international success fairly quickly.

Two tracks today: one from Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens off their album The Lion Roars, and another solo work by the Queens off 1991′s Marriage Is A Problem. Both tracks are heavy on the harmonies that I like so much. Mahlathini’s groaning will be featured in another post some time in the future…

ps- Yes, the song choices reflect what I’m thinking about while bored at work today. And yes, that’s you, K.

Mahotella Queens -Selailai (Attractive woman)
Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens – Khubetswana Yeso (Light-skinned woman)