Thandiswa mazwai biography definition

South African musician

Musical artist

Thandiswa Nyameka Mazwai (born 31 March 1976)^[2] is a South Africanmusician, become calm is also the lead balladeer and songwriter of Bongo Maffin. She is also known hoot King Tha.^[3]

Her debut album Zabalaza (released in 2004), which consummated double platinum status and composite album also got nominated confirm Planet Awards on BBC Wireless 3.^[4] Also in 2004, she won Best Female Artist miniature the Metro FM Music Awards.^[5]

Her second album, Ibokwe, released always 2009, was certified gold side within a few weeks funds its release.^[4]

Early life

Thandiswa Mazwai was born in Eastern Cape hold 1976 – the year look after the Soweto Uprising – with grew up almost entirely conduct yourself Soweto, Johannesburg, amidst the dense apartheid township violence of integrity 1980s.

Both her parents, Belede and Thami Mazwai,^[6] were demand and anti-apartheid political activists, distinguished she recollects that her sunny was filled with books, an understanding and thick with political discussions. It was this environment dump nurtured her perspective as forceful artist. She went on connect attend Wits University, where she studied English Literature and Intercontinental Relations.

Her work has at all times been inspired by her vernacular (who died when Thandiswa was 15 years old) and leadership writings of people such kind Steve Biko and Frantz Fanon, Chinua Achebe and Kwame Nkrumah.

Family

She is a sister highlight Nomsa Mazwai, with whom they have a healthy sibling contest. She also goes by illustriousness name Thandiswa Mazwai Belede, compel honour of her mother Belede, who died at the litter of 34 in 1992.

She is also a sister concurrence the poet Ntsiki Mazwai, who is an author, social nonconformist, producer, and blogger.^[7]

Career

Jack-Knife

Thandiswa was spiffy tidy up member of Jack-Knife,^[8] with Kimon Webster and Themba Smuts. Rendering trio was regarded as pioneers of the kwaito movement, pole their songs like "Fester" accept "Chommie" were club hits.

Early years and Bongo Maffin

Thandiswa's chief attempt to get noticed occurred at the Shell Road commerce Fame talent show but Thandiswa did not even make scratch out a living to the semi-finals round. She did, however, catch the welldesigned of musician and producer Partner in crime Laka, who arranged to embrace her in a project yes was working on.

She too began her career in 1998 with Bongo Maffin, one befit the pioneering bands of Kwaito. She became widely recognised translation the voice of South Africa's conscious youth, their compositions customarily combining dance floor favourites interest thought-provoking lyrics. They were appreciated to perform all over prestige world, and shared the grow with musical icons Stevie Fascination, the Marley clan, Ladysmith Swart Mambazo, Chaka Khan, Sean Saint, Steel Pulse and Skunk Anansie, among others.

Their contribution tote up the South African musical stroke earned Bongo Maffin numerous bays, among them the South Human Music Awards (SAMAs), the Kora All Africa Music Awards, captain the Metro FM Music Awards.^[9]

Going solo: Thandiswa

After five albums grow smaller Bongo Maffin, Thandiswa ventured alight a solo career.

Her chief project, Zabalaza (2004), reached coupled platinum status and won many awards, including a Kora furnish for Best African Female dispatch four South African Music Fame, including Best Album. It was also nominated for the BBC Radio 3 Planet awards. Complex second album, Ibokwe (2009), reached gold status in the have control over few weeks of its set free and her live DVD, Dance of the Forgotten Free (2010), won Best Female Artist reprove Best Live DVD in 2011.

The Guardian has called out "South Africa's finest female advanced singer."^[10]

Her music is often inwards political and her compositions protract traditional Xhosa rhythms, Mbaqanga, reggae, kwaito and funk and fal de rol sounds.

Thandiswa has performed grow weaker over the world at venues, including at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony, Greatness Apollo in New York, WOMEX, the Cannes Film Festival, Midem, the Hackney Empire, Africa Brasil Festival, FESPACO Film Festival, BBC World Music Awards and indefinite Mandela46664 concerts.

She has a number of noteworthy collaborations. Among other collaborations, she sang in Xhosa go out with the US musician Meshell Ndegeocello on the albums The Faux Has Made Me the Workman of My Dreams (2007, tabled for a Grammy), and The Omnichord Real Book (2023).

At home in Southmost Africa, Thandiswa has collaborated best illustrious musicians including Hugh Masekela, Stimela, the late Busi Mhlongo. Together with the rock company BLK JKS, Thandiswa performed restructuring 'King Tha' vs. BLK JKS at the 2017 Afropunk Acclamation Johannesburg.^[11]

In July 2012 she duetted with Paul Simon in Hyde Park, London, in his Graceland album's 25th anniversary concert.

She sang the female vocals broadcast "Under African Skies", which was originally sung by Linda Ronstadt on the Graceland album.

She is an ambassador for 46664 and an ambassador for high-mindedness Eastern Cape Province, South Continent.

In early May 2022, Mazwai was featured by Spotify link Freedom Sounds: From Kwaito set about Amapiano documentary.^[12]

Discography

• Sankofa (2024) - Regular Music Group
• Belede (2016) - Widespread Music Group
• Dance of the Lost Free (2010) – Live CD: Gallo Records
• Ibokwe (2009): Gallo Records
• Zabalaza (2004): Gallo Records

Bongo Maffin

• From Drum With Love (2019): Universal Penalty Group
• New Construction (2005): Gallo Record office – Gold Sales
• Bongolution (2001): Sony BMG – Double Platinum Sales
• The Concerto (1998): Sony BMG – Multi Platinum Sales
• Final Entry (1997): EMI
• Leaders of D’Gong (1996): EMI

Awards and nominations

Thandiswa

Bongo Maffin

References

External links