Mildred Mangxola
Encyclopedia
Nontsomi Mildred Mangxola (born January 9, 1944) is a South Africa
n mbaqanga
singer, and a singer in the acclaimed group the Mahotella Queens
. Mangxola was born in Benoni, Johannesburg, in South Africa, and loved singing from a young age. She was also a part of local girl group The Daveyton Queens.
, recruited Mangxola into a new female group, the Mahotella Queens
alongside fellow group members Hilda Tloubatla
, Nobesuthu Mbadu
, Juliet Mazamisa and Ethel Mngomezulu after seeing her perform with the Daveytons. The five Mahotella Queens were then paired with a mbaqanga instrumental team, the Makgona Tsohle Band
and the gruff, "groaning" vocals of Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde
, and the whole band
received instant fame.
In 1971, several original Mahotella Queens, including Mangxola, left to pursue other directions in the music business, and so an entirely new line-up of Queens was formed. It was in this time that Mangxola took some time off from the music business, but also became a part of a new female group at rival record company EMI
.
, was a hit in South Africa. Due to the success of Paul Simon
's Graceland
1986 album and tour (in which he collaborated with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
, Stimela
and others), South African music was in demand. Three original Queens, Tloubatla, Mbadu and Mangxola, were reunited once more with their bandmates. Their international popularity was profound.
Even after the deaths of Mahlathini and several members of the Makgona Tsohle Band, the three Queens (who are all grandmothers and are over sixty years old) remain at the helm today and Mangxola continues to be a part of the Mahotella Queens today.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n mbaqanga
Mbaqanga
Mbaqanga is a style of South African music with rural Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today. The style originated in the early 1960s.-History:...
singer, and a singer in the acclaimed group the Mahotella Queens
Mahotella Queens
The Mahotella Queens are a South African singing group formed in 1964 comprising Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola...
. Mangxola was born in Benoni, Johannesburg, in South Africa, and loved singing from a young age. She was also a part of local girl group The Daveyton Queens.
Early life
Rupert Bopape, a talent scout with Gallo Record CompanyGallo Record Company
Gallo Record Company is the largest record label in Africa. It is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is owned by Avusa Limited . The current Gallo Record Company is a hybrid of two rival South African record labels between the '40s and '80s: the original Gallo Africa and G.R.C...
, recruited Mangxola into a new female group, the Mahotella Queens
Mahotella Queens
The Mahotella Queens are a South African singing group formed in 1964 comprising Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola...
alongside fellow group members Hilda Tloubatla
Hilda Tloubatla
Hilda Semola Tloubatla is a South African mbaqanga singer, and the lead singer of the acclaimed group the Mahotella Queens. Tloubatla was born in Payneville, Springs in South Africa before moving to kwaThema township in 1951 as a result of the apartheid government's 'Group Areas Act' in the...
, Nobesuthu Mbadu
Nobesuthu Mbadu
Nobesuthu Gertrude Mbadu Shawe is a South African mbaqanga singer, and a singer in the acclaimed group the Mahotella Queens...
, Juliet Mazamisa and Ethel Mngomezulu after seeing her perform with the Daveytons. The five Mahotella Queens were then paired with a mbaqanga instrumental team, the Makgona Tsohle Band
Makgona Tsohle Band
The Makgona Tsohle Band was a South African instrumental band that is noted for creating the mbaqanga music style. The group was formed in 1964 at Mavuthela , and became the Mavuthela house band. It garnered success by backing fellow Mavuthela-Gallo stars, Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens...
and the gruff, "groaning" vocals of Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde
Mahlathini
Simon 'Mahlathini' Nkabinde was a South African mbaqanga singer. Known as the "Lion of Soweto" Nkabinde is the acknowledged exponent of the deep-voiced, basso profundo "groaning" style that came to symbolize mbaqanga music in the 1960s...
, and the whole band
Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens
Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens was a South African mbaqanga supergroup composed of:...
received instant fame.
In 1971, several original Mahotella Queens, including Mangxola, left to pursue other directions in the music business, and so an entirely new line-up of Queens was formed. It was in this time that Mangxola took some time off from the music business, but also became a part of a new female group at rival record company EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
.
International fame
In 1983, the five original Queens (Tloubatla, Mbadu, Mangxola, Mazamisa and Mngomezulu) were reunited with Mahlathini and the Makgona Tsohle Band. Their comeback release, Amaqhawe OmgqashiyoAmaqhawe Omgqashiyo
Amaqhawe Omgqashiyo was the first release by Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens after their comeback in 1983. The group was reunited by Marks Mankwane...
, was a hit in South Africa. Due to the success of Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
's Graceland
Graceland (album)
Graceland was Paul Simon's highest charting album in the U.S. in over a decade, reaching #3 in the national Billboard charts, receiving a certification of 5× Platinum by the RIAA and eventually selling over 14 million copies, making it Simon's most commercially successful album...
1986 album and tour (in which he collaborated with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards...
, Stimela
Stimela
Stimela is a South African Afro-fusion band, founded by Ray Phiri in 1982 after his previous band the Cannibals disbanded. They created Fire, Passion and Ecstasy , Look, Listen and Decide .-Members:*Ray Phiri, lead guitar, lead vocals...
and others), South African music was in demand. Three original Queens, Tloubatla, Mbadu and Mangxola, were reunited once more with their bandmates. Their international popularity was profound.
Even after the deaths of Mahlathini and several members of the Makgona Tsohle Band, the three Queens (who are all grandmothers and are over sixty years old) remain at the helm today and Mangxola continues to be a part of the Mahotella Queens today.