Paris/Soweto

Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens

A Groaner Goes Global

It's impossible to overstate the impact Paul Simon's Graceland had on African music. The artists who were prominently featured on the album became celebrities, and even talents who weren't directly involved suddenly found themselves with bookings in Europe and the United States. Among the most unusual cases was the man known as the Lion of Soweto, a bass-voiced "groaner" who'd been on the scene when South African township jive, aka mbaqanga music, was just getting started: Simon "Mahlathini" Nkabinde (1937–1999).

Mahlathini, whose showbiz name translates as "jungle on his head" (a reference to his warriorlike presence), has a voice that's so coarse you don't expect much entertainment from it. He sings in a straightforward, declarative manner, with no pretense at all—he's a teller of truths, not some artiste. Halfway through the shimmering opener "Kazet," he hums, almost to himself, a gravelly response to the carefree airborne refrain sung by his three background singers, the Mahotella Queens. It's just a monosyllabic grunt, so low it blends in with the bass and is easily missed. Once you pick it up, you realize how important it is to the overall sound: This unusual animalistic tone contrasts powerfully with the sweetness of the surroundings.

This album was recorded in Paris (the European locus of African music) in 1989, after the ensemble finished its first post-Graceland international tour. With the exception of one ill-advised Art of Noise experiment, its songs are relentlessly springy township jive, with shining vocal refrains in several languages and elastic, gravity-defying rhythms. For all Mahlathini's overt and covert scene-stealing, this potent music depends on an array of forces, most definitely including the band led by saxophonist West Nkosi and the three Mahotella Queens. These women, known for their intricate dance steps, sing the hooks of these songs in waves of pure uplift—the next time you need music that affirms the human spirit, check out "Melodi ya lla" or "Re ya dumedisa," and prepare to smile.

Genre: World, South Africa
Released: 1989, Celluloid/Polydor
Key Tracks: "Kazet," "Safa indlada," "Melodi ya lla," "Re ya dumedisa."
Catalog Choice: The Lion of Soweto.
Next Stop: Ladysmith Black Mambazo: Shaka Zulu
After That: Various Artists: Guitar Paradise of East Africa.
Book Pages: 467–468