Classic mbaqanga: Sishong Sa Melodi (1969)

A special treat for EJ readers today: a compilation LP featuring 12 of the best hit vocal jive tunes of the past year, Sishong Sa Melodi, released on the Gumba Gumba label in 1969.

The single format was more or less the preferred choice for the African consumer during that bygone era of Radio Bantu, the days when mbaqanga music blasted through transistors and filled the air across the South African townships. Although the first African 45 rpms were produced from the mid-1960s, 78 rpm singles remained in production until around 1969. The story goes that the country's African population simply couldn't afford the expensive hi-fi systems needed to play the more durable 45 rpm, so gramophones continued to rule the roost for years onwards. Record companies later collected some of the highest selling singles (and often those that weren't shifting as many copies) on 33 rpm format to produce (at best, excellent, and at worst, interesting) compilation LPs. Sishong Sa Melodi was but one of several LPs issued in 1969 by Gallo's Mavuthela Music division and arguably features some of the finest mbaqanga recordings put down on 78 and 45 rpm in the late sixties. Despite the... questionable condition of the LP jacket, the disc itself is in remarkably strong condition with unobtrusive surface noise. All the better for hearing the music then!

Inevitably, the African girl group features prominently, with cuts from no less than four ensembles - Dima Sisters, Izingane zo Mgqashiyo (a.k.a. the Mthunzini Girls), Izintombi zo Moya, and Marula Boom Stars (a.k.a. the Mahotella Queens). "Taba Tsela" is a great if somewhat sober introductory tune from the Dima Sisters featuring some solid harmony work and easygoing guitars. Though track number 2 is listed on the jacket and the disc label as being "Esale Ke Ngola" by the Dima Sisters, the track on the LP is actually "Sponono" by the Jabavu Queens. Weird! Similarly, track 4 is listed as being "Sekoloto" by the Marula Boom Stars, but is - for now - an unidentifiable 'African jazz' instrumental. No matter though... they're both cool tunes.

One of my favourites on this LP is "Kajebane" by Izingane zo Mgqashiyo. Such a fun number, complete with catchy late '60s organ soul beat! The very next tune is pretty much a similar affair but by no means a repetition of what came before - "Mojiko Wa Soul" by Izintombi zo Moya. Gorgeously fat, warm organ sound. That sound carries over onto side 2 in the excellent "Matlare" by the equally excellent Mahotella Queens. For those of you who care for nerdy details like I do, you'll be interested to know "Matlare" was later re-recorded by the Queens in 1988 as "Mme Ngwana Walla" for the album Melodi Yalla. Nothing beats the original though.

Izingane zo Mgqashiyo returns for two classic Sotho vocal jive hits, "Dikuku" and "Sophie". The former is based on a popular wedding song pointing out the juxtaposition between the delicious taste of wedding cakes and the sourness that marriage can sometimes produce.

The closer is "Tshiwanyana" by the Marula Boom Stars - excellent up-tempo beat from the Makgona Tsohle Band combined with the tightly layered vocals of the Queens at their youthful best. Just delightful!!

Now all you have to do is download Sishong Sa Melodi, have yourselves an mbaqanga party and play these MP3s at full volume. Enjoy!

VARIOUS

SISHONG SA MELODI

produced by Rupert Bopape

Gumba Gumba LMGG 4

1969

Sotho Vocal Jive

MF

Classic mbaqanga: Indoda Mahlathini (1969)

Today, Electric Jive is proud to present another compilation of hit singles from the days when mbaqanga was the sound of the townships - Indoda Mahlathini, released in 1969 on the Motella label, is a twelve-song LP that features some of the best-selling Mavuthela material of the past year. As is normally the case with this kind of record, the listener will find that they simply must get up and start grooving to the great vocal jive sounds offered here.

Although this LP bears his identity, it is rather interesting that Simon ‘Mahlathini’ Nkabinde appears only on four of the twelve songs! This particular time period was the absolute peak of Mahlathini’s popularity. The rightful king of all the groaners, this crowd-puller was the only singing star who attracted fans from right across the board – kids as young as ten would attend his shows, as well as elderly people who scrambled to the halls in their walking frames. It is obvious that the compilers of this album wanted to capitalise on Mahlathini’s enormous success by using his renowned moniker as the title of this record. The King’s bellowing groans can be heard on his solo numbers “Imbodlomane” and “Gabi Gabi”, as well as “Sengibuya Emarabini” which is recorded with the Mahotella Queens and “Akashaywa Umfazi” by the Sweet Home Dames.

From Mavuthela’s start back in 1964, the same team of ten (or so) female singers had recorded under the various group names dreamed up by Rupert Bopape. Following the recruitment of more singers during 1965, Bopape took one of the names and built it up into a regular recording and touring line-up: the Mthunzini Girls (Julia Yende, Windy Sibeko, Teddy Nkutha and Virginia Teffo) were the junior group of singers. The Girls also recorded under a second name, Izingane Zo Mgqashiyo. The senior female group at Mavuthela performed and recorded as the Mahotella Queens, but also cut records under various other (non-touring) names including Izintombi Zo Mgqashiyo, Marula Boom Stars, Soweto Stars and Sweet Home Dames. Some of these names were interchangeable, and it is not unusual to listen to a record credited to the Sweet Home Dames but featuring the voices of the Mthunzini Girls (or vice versa).

“Jive Didiza” was one of the Mthunzini Girls’ biggest-selling hits of the late 1960s. Possibly recorded as Mavuthela’s answer to the rival Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje’s celebrated 1967 top seller “Isidudla sika Joseph”, this number features the robust lead vocals of Yende who sings “siyatshitshizela, isidudla sikaMahlathini” (we’re moving like young girls, Mahlathini’s big women)! “Tete Muka No. 2” is a song that has an amazingly crazy guitar intro and a fast-paced beat that just won’t quit – and that’s definitely not a bad thing. The group’s other track on this LP is the wonderfully rumba-tastic “Sangena, Sangena”, a driving and dynamic number that happens to be my favourite one. The late Windy Sibeko’s distinctive alto voice can be clearly heard on these two classics.

The senior Mavuthela female group appears on four tracks on Indoda Mahlathini. One of them, “Sengibuya Emarabini”, uses the familiar and famous Mahotella Queens name. The usual rhythmic mgqashiyo beat works its magic in this lovely number composed by Rupert Bopape and Marks Mankwane. The other three numbers are credited to the Sweet Home Dames and feature the normal Mahotella line-up of the day, including Mildred Mangxola (who recently retired from the current line-up of the group in 2013), Juliet Mazamisa, Ethel Mngomezulu, Thoko Nontsontwa and Nobesuthu Shawe. Mangxola’s two compositions, “Yeka Amanga” and “Akashaywa Umfazi”, are yet another couple of examples of solid girl group harmony. Another gem is Shawe’s composition “Dumazile”, the complicated tale of a couple of lovers.

Later into the 1960s, with more young female vocalists joining the roster, Bopape took another of the pseudonyms used by the senior group and built up a third unit of junior singers. The Dima Sisters, who appear on three songs, included Sheba Malgas, Mavis Maseko, Nancy Ngema and Julia Ngubane. Various Mavuthela staff including Shadrack Piliso, Ellison Themba and the two Lerole brothers contributed to the group’s material. Following the departures of several vocalists in the early 1970s after a salary disagreement, the most talented singers in the lower-ranking Mavuthela groups were promoted into the senior Mahotella Queens line-up. Several Izintombi Zomoya members joined the frontline of the Queens, with two of the Dima Sisters also coming on board – Nancy Ngema and Sheba Malgas.

While you’re waiting for this LP to download, you’d best get your dancing shoes ready and get ready to do some heavy jive mgqashiyo until you drop. Enjoy!

VARIOUS

INDODA MAHLATHINI

produced by Rupert Bopape

Motella LMO 110

1969

Vocal Jive

RS / MF

Classic Mbaqanga Girl Groups - Vol. 4

ABOVE - IZINTOMBI ZESI MANJE MANJE IN 1975.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: LINDIWE MTHEMBU, JANE DLAMINI, NOBESUTHU SHAWE, RUTH MAFUXWANA

Collecting records from the glory days of black South African music invariably results in the accumulation of “factory-line stuff”. It is something inherent within mbaqanga music, which was as quick to produce as the traditional snack it was named after. But very often, that factory-line material would be intercepted. The individual talents and geniuses of the wonderful musicians in the studio would collide spectacularly and explode. The results of that explosion were stunning masterpieces that blended superb vocal harmony and sumptuous guitar rhythm together seamlessly. It is these masterpieces that Electric Jive presents here proudly today – the fourth installment of our regular series, Classic Mbaqanga Girl Groups.

“Awuthule Bo”, recorded in 1970, is one of the classic hits from the Mahotella Queens repertoire during their most successful era. Nobesuthu Shawe, one of the group’s regular vocalists and the composer of this song, tells her baby through fabulous high-spirited jive to listen to mother and quieten down. The ladies’ 1967 tune “Umuzwa Ngedwa” is an oddity because of its unusual swing-like melody, a throwback to the styles that their brand of mbaqanga had replaced. On the other hand, “Metsoalle Yaka”, is a deeply soul-infused 1970s number with some crazy-brilliant vocal work, featuring the golden voices of Thandi Radebe, Beatrice Ngcobo, Emily Zwane, Thandi Nkosi, Constance Ngema and Caroline Kapentar. The Mahotella Queens was perhaps the finest example of a truly classic mbaqanga girl group. The harmonies blended perfectly, the songs – either based on themes of love, folklore or topical matters – were always relevant, and the essential instrumental backup from the Makgona Tsohle Band was as raw and emotive as possible. Just one listen to their selections in this compilation certainly does go some way towards confirming those statements.

While the Mahotella Queens was the first group on the scene to pioneer the new, more electric-led female vocal jive of the mid-1960s, they were certainly not the only team of singers to shoot to stardom with beautiful recordings. Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje arose some three years after the Queens had already bedded into the market as the most successful female group of the 1960s, but this wasn’t going to deter Sannah Mnguni and her fellow songbirds, Thopi Mnguni, Thoko Khumalo and Nunu Maseko, from challenging the Queens for the crown. “Salani Kahle” spotlights Sannah’s beautiful vocal talent against the solid rhythm of the group. Along with the likes of mbaqanga vocalists such as Hilda Tloubatla, Irene Mawela, Olive Masinga and Julia Yende, Sannah possessed a voice that was instantly recognisable no matter which group she recorded with. She had left Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje in 1968, moving to the famous and well-known girl group the Sweet Sixteens which was led by Irene. Although Sannah did record some enchanting, hypnotic tunes with the group like “Uthuleleni”, she decided to return to Izintombi in 1970, bringing with her a junior Sweet Sixteen, Jane Dlamini. In 1972, the Izintombi line-up was thrown into jeopardy when the core members of the team resigned. Sannah, Thopi and Thoko – as well as lead guitarist Hansford Mthembu, Thopi’s husband – left the company and joined EMI, where they formed a successful new mbaqanga girl group called Amagugu. It remained a popular act until the early 1980s, when changing musical tastes brought an end to the dominance of the mbaqanga girl group. Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje retained its popularity through the early 1970s with a revised line-up: Jane Dlamini was joined by Nobesuthu Shawe (joining Isibaya after four years with Mavuthela’s Mahotella Queens), Beatrice Ngcobo (who was to depart the group soon and join the Mahotella Queens later in 1973), Lindiwe Mthembu and Ruth Mafuxwana. “Siya Kwa Mzilikazi”, featuring Izintombi’s regular groaner Saul Shabalala, was one of the many hits recorded by this newer incarnation of the group. "Sicela Indlela", another tune of similar vintage, sounds so carefree and laidback that it's almost as if the ladies are jamming with each other at a rehearsal.

During the mid-to-late 1960s, Mavuthela Music’s roster expanded so that set units of female singers were formed, utilising many of the names originated by Rupert Bopape back in 1964, and arranged almost in a hierarchy: the so-called “top tier” was the group that recorded under the names Mahotella Queens, Marula Boom Stars, Soweto Stars, Dima Sisters, Izintombi Zomgqashiyo, and the Sweet Home Dames. A second regular unit, featuring the voices of singers such as Julia Yende and Windy Sibeko, recorded under names including the Mthunzini Girls and Izingane Zomgqashiyo. “Sangena, Sangena” is an infectiously loud tune that has a slight-rumba feel to the rhythm – and a melodica is included in the band for good measure! On the other hand, “Akashaywa Umfazi” is the top tier at its best. Written by vocalist Mildred Mangxola and featuring Simon 'Mahlathini' Nkabinde on lead vocals, the song refers to physical abuse against women, although the song could be categorised as being more “classic mbaqanga” than “ballad”. Mangxola had joined Mavuthela in 1965 with her group, the Daveyton Sisters, with whom she had been singing since she was in her teens. The Sisters recorded some solid material for Mavuthela, but was to eventually disintegrate, with Mangxola and fellow Daveyton vocalist Thoko Nontsontwa joining the Mahotella Queens. Mangxola's wonderful, lively vocals can be heard prominently on "Akashaywa Umfazi", "Sengibuya Emarabini" (in which she has a very brief solo) and on an early tune with her old bandmates, "Ulele Emini U Makoti", a song composed by Makgona Tsohle Band drummer Lucky Monama.

After Mahlathini left Mavuthela in 1972 following a dispute over royalty payments with Rupert Bopape, he formed a new group called Amakhosazana which found some astonishing success as a performance-only group. This venture lasted only two years, after which the great groaner joined the new black music operation recently started at Satbel Record Company. Cambridge Matiwane, producer of the new subsidiary, busied himself building up a roster of artists to rival the material pumped out of the successful Mavuthela and Isibaya stables. Mahlathini preferred to work in conjunction with a female group, and although the Mahotella Queens remained the sole property of Gallo’s Mavuthela, a new group was formed at Satbel that was simply named The Queens. Pay disputes over at Gallo saw several of the Mavuthela singers move over to Satbel to record with Mahlathini. These included Koekie Makhanya, Mildred Mangxola, Ethel Mngomezulu and Thoko Nontsontwa. The Queens recorded some of the finest female vocal classics one can find. The raw passion and emotion came across in whatever song they sang, be it a ballad (“Siyaniduduza”, “Nginothando”) or a lively and boisterous tune (“Baratsale”, “Mhlobo Mdala”). Also at Satbel was Izintombi Zephepha, a group led by former Mahotella Queens and Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje vocalist Nunu Maseko. The group mostly recorded with singer Victor ‘Mahlabathini’ Zulu, a fine vocalist and groaner.

Mahlathini Nezintombi Zomgqashiyo (or “MNZ”) was a shortlived reunion between the groaner and five of the 1960s line-up of the Mahotella Queens. MNZ, which was put together by Marks Mankwane in 1983 on the back of a nostalgia trip for mbaqanga’s heyday, was named in that way so as not to disturb the Mahotella Queens line-up of that time, which had been stable for some years by that point. Interestingly, MNZ’s 1984 LP Pheletsong Ya Lerato features Mahlathini on only two of the ten tracks, making that particular album more or less an Izintombi Zomgqashiyo project. “Moradi Wa Mofokeng” is perhaps one of the finest songs produced by this line-up. Hilda Tloubatla, one of the most recognisable and popular lead vocalists of mbaqanga's heyday, leads the ensemble here, and the troupe's vocals are nothing short of strong, hearty and passionate. Backed by the unrelenting beat of the Makgona Tsohle Band, this certainly is the “A” team performing at its very best. While Mahlathini Nezintombi Zomgqashiyo busied themselves recording some of their best new material since the 1960s, the latter-day Mahotella Queens led by Emily Zwane solidly carried on recording the wonderful, sturdy, easy-listening material they were famous for. “Moleko Ntlohele” is a rich, watery ballad that spotlights their beautiful, soulful and emotive voices.

Thanks to Siemon Allen for contributing the Mahotella Queens songs “Awuthule Bo” and “Metsoalle Yaka”, and to Chris Albertyn for the equally wonderful songs from the Sweet Sixteens and Mahlabathini. I’m very grateful to both of you for your help in adding to this collection of classic, wonderful jive…

…and now, it’s over to the girls for another dose of goodness from the archives of yesteryear. I sincerely hope you download and enjoy.

YEBO!

CLASSIC MBAQANGA GIRL GROUPS
COMPILED BY NICK LOTAY
VOLUME 4

1. Awuthule Bo*
Mahotella Queens
Gumba Gumba BL 123
1970
FROM THE LP "BEST OF THE MAHOTELLA QUEENS"
*COURTESY OF SIEMON ALLEN

2. Sangena, Sangena
Izingane Zo Mgqashiyo
Motella LMO 110
1968
FROM THE LP "INDODA MAHLATHINI"

3. Salani Kahle
Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje
CBS CB.4007
1971

4. Mmathobela
Mahotella Queens
Gumba Gumba MGG 716
1977

5. Uthuleleni*
Sweet Sixteens
Troubadour SPA 892
1969
*COURTESY OF CHRIS ALBERTYN

6. Siyaniduduza
The Queens
Soweto SWB 136
1974

7. Siya Kwa Mzilikazi
Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje
CBS LAB 4042
1973
FROM THE LP "SIYA EMSHADWENI"

8. Umuzwa Ngedwa
Mahotella Queens
Smanje Manje SJM 7-5
1967

9. Akashaywa Umfazi
Sweet Home Dames
Motella LMO 110
1968
FROM THE LP "INDODA MAHLATHINI"

10. Baratsale
The Queens and Ndlondlo Bashise Band
King KGB 034
1976

11. Metsoalle Yaka*
Mahotella Queens
Gumba Gumba BL 123
1977
FROM THE LP "BEST OF MAHOTELLA QUEENS"
*COURTESY OF SIEMON ALLEN

12. Mathamyizimimyaba*
Izintombi Zephepha
Soweto SWB 14019
1976
FROM THE LP "MAHLABATHINI AND IZINTOMBI ZEPHEPHA"
*COURTESY OF CHRIS ALBERTYN

13. Musu Dlala Ngami
Mahlabathini
King KGB 006
1976

14. Iminyaka Kayifani
Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje
Masterpiece LMS 529
1977
FROM THE LP "IMINYAKA KAYIFANI"

15. Maile
Mahotella Queens
Gumba Gumba BL 226
1980
FROM THE LP "TSAMAYA MORATUOA"

16. Moradi Wa Mofokeng
Izintombi Zomgqashiyo
Gumba Gumba BL 457
1984
FROM THE LP "PHELETSONG YA LERATO"

17. Moleko Ntlohele
Mahotella Queens
Hit Special IAL 4005
1984
FROM THE LP "KHWATHA O MONE"

18. Vulamehlo
S'morden Girls
Masterpiece MS 508
1980

19. Sidlala Yonke Imidlalo
Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje
Masterpiece LMS 529
1977
FROM THE LP "IMINYAKA KAYIFANI"

20. Ha Bo Tle
Mahotella Queens
Gumba Gumba BL 226
1980
FROM THE LP "TSAMAYA MORATUOA"

21. Sikhulekile*
Mahlabathini and Izintombi Zephepha
Soweto SWB 14019
1976
FROM THE LP "MAHLABATHINI AND IZINTOMBI ZEPHEPHA"
*COURTESY OF CHRIS ALBERTYN

22. Nimzwile Umntimande*
Sannah Mnguni Nesimanjemanje
CBS AB 284
1971
*COURTESY OF CHRIS ALBERTYN

23. Nginothando
The Queens and Ndlondlo Bashise Band
King KGB 034
1976

24. Awungifanelanga*
Sweet Sixteens
Troubadour SPA 892
1969
*COURTESY OF CHRIS ALBERTYN

25. Hole Thaba
Dark City Sisters
HMV JP.1002
1966
FROM THE LP "STARTIME VOL. 3"

26. Ulele Emini U Makoti
Daveyton Sisters
Gallo-USA USA 320
1965

27. Sicela Indlela
Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje
CBS LAB 4042
1973
FROM THE LP "SIYA EMSHADWENI"

28. Uyangizungeza Lombemu
Usizwe Namatshitshi
CBS LAB 4022
1971
FROM THE LP "NOMA UNGAYAPHI BAKHALA NGATHI"

29. Mhlobo Mdala
The Queens and Ndlondlo Bashise Band
King KGB 035
1976

30. Sengibuya Emarabini
Mahotella Queens
Motella LMO 110
1968
FROM THE LP "INDODA MAHLATHINI"

RS / MF

ABOVE - IZINTOMBI ZESI MANJE MANJE IN THE STUDIO IN 1976.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: LINDIWE MTHEMBU, JANE DLAMINI, RUTH MAFUXWANA, NOBESUTHU SHAWE AND HILDA TLOUBATLA

Classic mbaqanga: Marena (1971)

A return to jive for this post - and if this LP we are sharing today does not fall under the category of "classic mbaqanga", I don't know what does.

This rarity is Marena, one of the many compilation LPs released on the Motella label in 1971 that represented the best tunes of the past year - though "best" may be something of an understatement.

Mavuthela's talented stars again make various appearances...

- Mahotella Queens, with guest vocals from Mahlathini on "Jive Makhona" and Lazarus Magatole on "Senakangwedi"

- Izintombi Zomoya, many of whom went onto become prominent Queens themselves at various points between 1973 and 1983

- Izingane Zomgqashiyo, a pseudonym for the combination of singer John Moriri and girl group Mthunzini Girls, formed by producer Rupert Bopape in 1966

- Zwino Zwino Boys, led by bassist James Mukwebo

- Makgona Tsohle Band, featuring some early guitar playing from Maxwell Mngadi, who was later to join the Soul Brothers' instrumental line-up

Musically, this album represents an exciting and enlightening time as far as mbaqanga music was concerned. Artwork-wise - well, see for yourself!!

From the party beat in "Stop Shouting", to praising the kings in "Marena", to the straightforward jive of "Ingede", to the almost mournful "Senakangwedi"... there's not much more to be said, other than...

...download, listen and get jiving!

MARENA (Various)
Motella LPBS 5
1971

1. STOP SHOUTING – ZWINO ZWINO BOYS
2. MAMODIEHI – IZINTOMBI ZOMOYA
3. TSABOHADI – IZINGANE ZOMGQASHIYO
4. UJOMELA – MAKGONA TSOHLE BAND
5. SENAKANGWEDI – MAHOTELLA QUEENS
6. LEFOKOLODI LA DITHOTA – IZINTOMBI ZOMOYA
7. MARENA – MAHOTELLA QUEENS
8. DIPEREKISI – MAKGONA TSOHLE BAND
9. JIVE MAKHONA – MAHOTELLA QUEENS
10. KGOMO YA MOSHATE – MAHOTELLA QUEENS
11. INGEDE – MAKGONA TSOHLE BAND
12. KGAREBE TSA GA MOTHUSI – MAHOTELLA QUEENS

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