Monday 28 April 2014

Intuthuko Brothers - Stars of Africa (1976)


As promised last week, today we feature the first in a series of posts on the Intuthuko Brothers. Also known as Abafana Bentuthuko, this distinctly mellow mbaqanga group was led by guitarist Hansford Mthembu and can often be heard backing Bra Sello Mmutung on a number of his LPs. The 1967 compilation album, Modern Sax Stars, featured here at Electric Jive includes Mthembu and his group as well as David Khanyile and Bra Sello.

The group that became the Intuthuko Brothers were formed around 1966 and were hugely popular in South Africa and toured extensively throughout the country and Swaziland in the mid 1970s.

Stars of Africa (1976) is dedicated to the group's first bassist Jackson Simelane Makwenta who unfortunately died in a car accident in 1975. Makwenta is also remembered by the inclusion of the first track, Mahlabathini Special No. 6, which he composed and arranged.

Intuthuko Brothers
Stars of Africa
Kaya-Lami
KYL 2002
1976

7 comments:

  1. Oh yes, I've been watching this space like a hawk and my wait has been handsomely rewarded. I don't think without this posting I would ever remember 'Back Home' a faster-paced version of 'Hush (Somebody's Calling My Name)' by The Skylarks, Hugh Masekela & The Union of SA and Ry Cooder (and probably other covers as well). 'For Ever' was huge for black township wedding 'grand marches' in SA in the late 70s into the 80s. There is no doubt that Amagugu's 'Insimbi Zomshado (wedding bells)', 'Sanibonani' and a few other slow marches were all similar Hansford Mthembu innovations ably executed by Intuthuko Brothers aka Abafana Bentuthuko. Hamba minyaka (those were the days)! Many thanks, Siemon. My wait is not yet ended:-)

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  2. Dear Members of Electricjive,
    is an pleasure write you.
    remember me blog called Africolombia which is divided into 2 sections the first and second part

    Africolombia 1 - http://acbia.wordpress.com
    Africolombia 2 - http://africolombiablog.wordpress.com

    I wondered if it was possible for you to add the firts section of my blog in your blog.
    you have only the second.
    I can also add yours to mine.
    Please let me know if possible
    Thank you!
    Fabian-

    ReplyDelete
  3. Manzo, thank you so much for your comment and detailed information about this LP! You still won't be disappointed, there are at least three more albums by the Intuthuko Brothers coming soon.

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  4. Sure thing Fabian, I'll check with Chris and see what's up.

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  5. Dear Siemon you did it again with some more tight jive tunes. While some days ago I was complaining about my kids hating jive I found out that my 16 year old daughter was actually listening to the Myriam Makeba less travelled tracks from your site. My wife and me dig this site too much.As a painter she is inspired by many of the older stuff we rediscovered on your site.In the nineties we had only the Dorothy Masuka classics CD with early hits , some zim prints of early Makeba songs,a bit jive,mpantsula etc. Now we can listen to the great Mabel Mafuya , Dixie Kwankwa,dark city sisters, Bra sello ,blue notes ,the fantastic album of Dudu Pukwana and the Spears to name of few. As our Ambuya used to live in the same street as Dorothy Masuka in Bulawayo in the 40's (if her stories are right of course) my wife was always keen to hear the music her grand mother was talking about. Now we are able to do this and this has inspired some of her paintings of dancing women, great stuff ,everybody enjoying this site can check out her work on her Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mollys-Art-Move-GalleryMolly-Maureen-Phiri-Winckelmans/156613757716719 and feel the vibes this music to an artist give. Me I Also enjoy the african serenades series a lot as they bring back nice memories.Thanks again (tatenda,siyaalemukela,ke a leboga,bake dank) for all the efforts to digitalise this stuff. Your rips are of an exceptional quality which allows us to play them full blast and shake our asses. Hande Kutamba !

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  6. William from GlasgowSaturday, May 03, 2014

    A scintillating upload - thanks indeed.

    Also, I really appreciate the effort to include cover and label scans. As a keen follower I'm always interested to build my understanding further.

    I notice, for example, there's composer credits for Soul Brothers Mpompie Sosibo and Zenzele Mchunu. I wonder if they were members of the Intuthuko Brothers?

    The only christian name that I can't unlock is "J. Mhlongo" who composed "Bajike Chwane". Anyone know what the J. stands for?

    Thanks again Siemon, brilliant stuff.

    ReplyDelete

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