New Music From Mbaqanga on Calabash Music

The Mahotella Queens

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:45:09 -0600

The vocal trio made of Hilda Tloubatla, Mildred Mangxola and Nobesuthu Mbadu belongs to the legend of urban South-African music. In the early 60s, together with Mahlathini («The Lion of Soweto») and the musicians of the Makgona Tsothle Band, the Mahotella Queens invented the Mbaqanga, an explosive style blending traditional music forms (Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa, Sotho, Shangaan etc) and Marabi (South-African jazz in Apartheid times) with American Rhythm'n'Blues, Soul and Gospel, then very much heard throughout the townships. The end of Apartheid has allowed a whole new generation to discover the glories of their musical heritage. Let yourself embark on a journey to the rainbow nation, to dance and to dream!

Central Park Summerstage

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:45:09 -0600

live SummerStage recordings

Mahotella Queens

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:45:09 -0600

The legendary female choir of urban South African music.

Coumba Gawlo & Souleymane Faye

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:45:09 -0600

When Coumba Gawlo and Souleyemane Faye, the hit-maker and the cursed artist work together.

Afrida Marimba Band

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:45:09 -0600

Drawing on many influences including Afro Jazz, Kwela and Mbaqanga, their unique Marimba style has reached the attention of music fans all over the world.

One Giant Leap

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:45:09 -0600

A musical odyssey combining up-close & personal performances by stunning artists like Baaba Maal & the Mahotella Queens.

Kalamazoo

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:45:09 -0600

The Kalamazoo sound goes back to the mid-seventies when Sipho, Pops and the late Basil Coetzee got together in a studio and recorded Pops's first solo album called Black Disco on the As-Shams label. In the earliy nineties the first official Kalamazoo album was recorded. Since then, their popularity has resulted in three additional Kalamazoo releases.

Busi Mhlongo

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:45:09 -0600

Busi's music is a beautiful and triumphant expression of something that is both pan-African and Western.