Biography
The Trompies ascended to the pinnacle of South African pop through their vivid stage outfits and their sharp, street-smart vocals and choreography. More than half a million units of their albums have been purchased, while individual successes such as the track “Thalakele” each moved beyond forty thousand copies. Their 1997 collaboration “Magasman,” cut with Lebo Mathoso of Boom Shaka, quickly became an unofficial national anthem and later appeared on the soundtracks of three local feature films. Together with disc jockey Oscar Mdlongwa and producer Don Laka they established Kalawa Jazmee in 1996, creating one of the planet’s most prosperous black-owned record companies. Although the quartet’s sound grew directly out of mapantsula, they recast the genre’s earlier association with criminal circles into a widely admired musical idiom. The Zimbabwe Standard singled out the group’s “synchronized footwork and independent dance moves.”
The story of the band’s formation begins in Soweto’s Meadowlands Township, where four childhood friends—Zynne “Mahoota” Sibika, Mandla “Spikiri” Mofokeng, Eugene “Donald Duck” Mthethwa, and Jairus “Jakarumba” Nkwe—first bonded over a shared passion for music. Determined to launch a group, they pursued formal training: Sibika and Nkwe enrolled in classical-music and jazz courses at Trinity College of Music in London, while Mofokeng and Mthethwa studied at Soweto’s Funda Center. Mthethwa became the first member to reach an international audience when he accepted an invitation to tour with Lucky Dube. Mofokeng later joined Sello “Chicco” Twala’s ensemble as a keyboardist after Nkwe had already been dancing with the same outfit; once Mofokeng mastered the piano he was elevated to full band member. Following four years alongside Twala, Mofokeng and Nkwe teamed with kwaito star M’du Masilela to create MM Deluxe.
Mofokeng’s growing technical interests led him to Phil Hollis’ studio, where he worked as a sound engineer and was soon joined by his three colleagues. Over the next five years the four musicians composed and produced material for Baby Gee, Tsekeleke, Senyaka, and Magents. They also freelanced at Downtown Records and CSR Studios while preparing their own debut album, Sigiya Ngengoma. Subsequent Trompies releases have included guest spots by such prominent South African figures as Cindy from Sarafina! and Stoan from Bongo Muffin. Copperhead has functioned almost as a fifth member, contributing to numerous recordings and occasionally appearing onstage with the group.
The story of the band’s formation begins in Soweto’s Meadowlands Township, where four childhood friends—Zynne “Mahoota” Sibika, Mandla “Spikiri” Mofokeng, Eugene “Donald Duck” Mthethwa, and Jairus “Jakarumba” Nkwe—first bonded over a shared passion for music. Determined to launch a group, they pursued formal training: Sibika and Nkwe enrolled in classical-music and jazz courses at Trinity College of Music in London, while Mofokeng and Mthethwa studied at Soweto’s Funda Center. Mthethwa became the first member to reach an international audience when he accepted an invitation to tour with Lucky Dube. Mofokeng later joined Sello “Chicco” Twala’s ensemble as a keyboardist after Nkwe had already been dancing with the same outfit; once Mofokeng mastered the piano he was elevated to full band member. Following four years alongside Twala, Mofokeng and Nkwe teamed with kwaito star M’du Masilela to create MM Deluxe.
Mofokeng’s growing technical interests led him to Phil Hollis’ studio, where he worked as a sound engineer and was soon joined by his three colleagues. Over the next five years the four musicians composed and produced material for Baby Gee, Tsekeleke, Senyaka, and Magents. They also freelanced at Downtown Records and CSR Studios while preparing their own debut album, Sigiya Ngengoma. Subsequent Trompies releases have included guest spots by such prominent South African figures as Cindy from Sarafina! and Stoan from Bongo Muffin. Copperhead has functioned almost as a fifth member, contributing to numerous recordings and occasionally appearing onstage with the group.
Albums
Singles
