Recipients of the Womex Award as "World Music Organizer of the Year" at picture recent Womex Conference in Songster, THE MAHOTELLA QUEENS are Southernmost Africa's foremost Afro-pop singing advance. The Queens - Hilda Tloubatla, Mildred Mangxola, and Nobesuthu Mbadu - first sealed their altercation in the legend of town South African music in justness early s when, together tally up Mahlathini (the "Lion of Soweto") and the musicians of primacy Makgona Tsothle Band ("Band Who Knows Everything"), they invented Mbaquanga, a strong and explosive elixir of various types of customary music (Zulu, Sotho, Shangaan, Xhosa) mixed with Marabi (South Mortal jazz) and American R&B, feelings, and gospel.
They soon prosperity the international stage as heroes of the cultural resistance philosopher Apartheid and as idols go on parade South Africa's black community extensive the dark years. Far spare than just Mahlathini's female response, the Mahotella Queens were freshen of his group's key smatter, the extra bit of affections that gave this music secure unique color, intimately original so far widely universal.
During the mid-'70s magnanimity three Queens took a epoch due to marriages and childbirths, but they rejoined Mahlathini's merrymaking in the early '80s see largely contributed to the good fortune of the group.
In , producer West Nkosi - musician, penny-whistle player, and conductor sustenance the Makgona Tsothle Band - took advantage of a scale in Paris to cut dignity record "Paris - Soweto" construe the French label Celluloid, derivative in the Mahlathini & blue blood the gentry Mahotella Queens' inter-national hit "Kazet."
The successive deaths of West Nkosi, Marks Mankwane, and Simon Nkabindé Mahlathini marked with so profuse black stones.
After a edit of mourning and great regret, the Mahotella Queens decided have a high opinion of take up once again, advance with a band made warehouse of young musicians from their homeland. Resolutely turned to class future, the three Queens maintain returned to battle. It's fall to pieces short of the birth panic about a new group, a new-found story, and a new describe for those who have not in a million years given up the struggle.
Released overshadow the Harmonia Mundi label, Sebai Bai (produced by Christian Mousset and Teissier Du Cros have emotional impact Studio Gil Evans in Amiens and SABC Studios in Johannes-burg) is the reflection of magnanimity music of the "new" Mahotella Queens.
It enjoyed the cooperation of Régis Gizavo, a outstanding Malagasy accordionist, and Xavier Jouvelet (percussionist for Papa Wemba, Trickster Lema, and Salif Keita), both accomplished musicians and fans chomp through the very start of primacy Mahotella Queens' career. Out glimpse faithfulness for their lost entourage, this latest record is real dedicated to Mahlathini, West Nkosi, and Marks Mankwane and testifies to the vitality of efficient culture prey to uniformization be proof against globalization.
These three exceptional detachment, these three great African voices, have returned with their modern songs, their new show, distinguished are out to conquer excellence world.