With many thanks to fellow collector Laurent Dalmasso, Electric Jive today shares another album of wonderful female vocal mbaqanga courtesy of Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje. Makoti Wakena, produced by Hamilton Nzimande and released on the Umjondolo label, features ten powerful songs originally released on 45rpm format in 1980. The album was issued at the same time as Unina Kavusi, also by the same group (under a different alias) and previously shared by us here. As with that album, Makoti Wakena features some of the finest mbaqanga rhythms of the era, no mean feat when you consider most of the other groups of the day had shifted focus more towards the burgeoning disco sound. Of course the archetypal organ and disco drums are present here, but they both sit beautifully alongside two jangly guitars, plucky bass, occasional bursts of male soul vocals and the trademark Isibaya Esikhulu saxophones. Most of the lead vocals are handled by the iconic Hilda Tloubatla alongside the other maidens of the group during this period: Jane Dlamini, Julia Mangqu, Lindiwe Mthembu and Nobesuthu Shawe. I must single out my favourite tracks - "Bantshepisa Lenyalo", "Bomma Ditaba", "Mpho" and "Menate Ya Lefatshe" - but in all honesty I don't believe any of the ten numbers are worth skipping over. Thanks again to Laurent for allowing us to share this one with you!
Enjoy!
IZINTOMBI ZESI MANJE MANJE
MAKOTI WAKENA
produced by Hamilton Nzimande
Umjondolo LJD 31
1980
Sotho Vocal
Thank you for this wonderful sounding album. Great sounds and rhythms. I appreciate all your kind efforts. Gracias. pburton
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Nick. Another fantastic record. I discovered EJ recently and it's just fabulous. Not only the music you post is astounding, the essays are top notch and a great source of knowledge, I really love to learn about all these rhythms, genres, and artists I was completely ignorant about. You guys are responsible for somebody who has spend 30 years listening to the classic punk, rock, r&b, soul, funk, ska, reggae, rockabilly etc etc to become a diehard african music fan. I can't thank you enough for this. There are a lot of broken or deleted links specially in old posts, if you guys can refresh them for us hungry music lovers that would be fantastic. Thanks million anyway. Keep 'em coming!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Laurent and Nick, sounds good on first spin.
ReplyDeleteThat cover is a hoot, reminds of the Chantels debut (End-301), although Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje don't seem quite so reluctant!
Thanks for this album, mr you can upload Joyce Mogatusi & The shoe laces Basadi Balla???
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments good people :)
ReplyDeleteSheik Highlife - we will keep an eye out and let you know when we have a copy to share
amazing music.... thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteHappy days!
Greetings Nick! Is there a chance that you can update the link for this one? Having listened to previous EJ Classic Mbaqanga Girl Group compilations, Irene Mawela as well as other Izintombi Zesimanje-manje releases I'd be thrilled to hear this release.
ReplyDeleteThanking you.
Sumbi [ cypherwars @ msn . com ]