Mahlathini

Simon Nkabinde Mahlathini, known by the nickname “the Lion of Soweto,” first reached listeners abroad through the 1985 compilation The Indestructible Beat of Soweto. He soon began performing overseas alongside the Mahotella Queens, yet his distinctive approach to mbaqanga—Zulu pop music deeply shaped by traditional vocal practices—had already been evolving since the early ’60s. His path began with impromptu performances on street corners, progressed through men’s choral ensembles, and led him to assemble a compact ensemble of his own in the mid-’60s. The decision to “go electric” during the mid-’70s ignited both excitement and debate. The Mahotella Queens contributed their energetic harmonies and elaborate choreography—reminiscent of a South African counterpart to the Supremes—while Mahlathini’s raw, guttural delivery conveyed meaning regardless of linguistic barriers, even though the ensemble later cut a few English-language sides. Equally vital to his achievements were the instrumental contributions of West Nkosi and the Makgona Tsohle Band. “Makgona Tsohle means ‘Jack-of-all-trades’,” Nkosi once said. “Our mbaqanga is a blend of traditional styles with modern instruments, a music anyone can relate to.” Their final concert took place in 1997; Nkosi died in a car crash the next year, and Mahlathini succumbed to a prolonged illness on June 29, 1999.