22nd July 2015 at Purcell Room. London SE1.
“Folk with Altitude”, organised by the Nest Collective, thenestcollective.co.uk/ (Though this gig lacked the altitude. Fears about the weather led to what proved to be an unnecessary move from the Roof Garden).
Country: South Africa. Style: Mbaqanga.
Lineup: Hilda Tloubatla (v), Nobesuthu Mbadu (v), Amanda Nkosi (v) and guests: Count Drachma.
This Zulu vocal group came together in Johannesburg in 1964 with 7 singers, and continued until the early 1970s (an entirely new line-up then performed under that name until the mid 1980s). In 1987 the band was reformed with three of the originals: Mildred Mangxola, Hilda Tloubatla and Nobesuthu Getrude Mbadu. I saw them in 1988 at the Hackney Empire with Mahlathini and the Makgona Tsohle Band. Then again in 2006 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall performing a capella supporting Ladysmith Black Mambazo. This time there were again no instruments, apart from the occasional blast of pea whistles. Tloubatla and Mbadu are now in their 70s but still dancing energetically on stage (Mangxola was advised to stop touring a couple of years ago and has been repaced by Nkosi who is in her 20s).
In this photo (left to right) Nobesuthu Mbadu, Hilda Tloubatla, Amanda Nkosi.
More information: www.facebook.com/TheMahotellaQueens.
Tags: World Music South Africa Zulu Mbaqanga Mahotella Queens Dancers Folk with Altitude Nest Collective Southbank Centre
© All Rights Reserved
22nd July 2015 at Purcell Room. London SE1.
“Folk with Altitude”, organised by the Nest Collective, thenestcollective.co.uk/ (Though this gig lacked the altitude. Fears about the weather led to what proved to be an unnecessary move from the Roof Garden).
Country: South Africa. Style: Mbaqanga.
Lineup: Hilda Tloubatla (v), Nobesuthu Mbadu (v), Amanda Nkosi (v) and guests: Count Drachma.
This Zulu vocal group came together in Johannesburg in 1964 with 7 singers, and continued until the early 1970s (an entirely new line-up then performed under that name until the mid 1980s). In 1987 the band was reformed with three of the originals: Mildred Mangxola, Hilda Tloubatla and Nobesuthu Getrude Mbadu. I saw them in 1988 at the Hackney Empire with Mahlathini and the Makgona Tsohle Band. Then again in 2006 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall performing a capella supporting Ladysmith Black Mambazo. This time there were again no instruments, apart from the occasional blast of pea whistles. Tloubatla and Mbadu are now in their 70s but still dancing energetically on stage (Mangxola was advised to stop touring a couple of years ago and has been repaced by Nkosi who is in her 20s).
In this photo (left to right) Nobesuthu Mbadu, Hilda Tloubatla, Amanda Nkosi.
More information: www.facebook.com/TheMahotellaQueens.
Tags: World Music South Africa Zulu Mbaqanga Mahotella Queens Dancers Folk with Altitude Nest Collective Southbank Centre
© All Rights Reserved
22nd July 2015 at Purcell Room. London SE1.
“Folk with Altitude”, organised by the Nest Collective, thenestcollective.co.uk/ (Though this gig lacked the altitude. Fears about the weather led to what proved to be an unnecessary move from the Roof Garden).
Country: South Africa. Style: Mbaqanga.
Lineup: Hilda Tloubatla (v), Nobesuthu Mbadu (v), Amanda Nkosi (v) and guests: Count Drachma.
This Zulu vocal group came together in Johannesburg in 1964 with 7 singers, and continued until the early 1970s (an entirely new line-up then performed under that name until the mid 1980s). In 1987 the band was reformed with three of the originals: Mildred Mangxola, Hilda Tloubatla and Nobesuthu Getrude Mbadu. I saw them in 1988 at the Hackney Empire with Mahlathini and the Makgona Tsohle Band. Then again in 2006 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall performing a capella supporting Ladysmith Black Mambazo. This time there were again no instruments, apart from the occasional blast of pea whistles. Tloubatla and Mbadu are now in their 70s but still dancing energetically on stage (Mangxola was advised to stop touring a couple of years ago and has been repaced by Nkosi who is in her 20s).
In this photo (left to right) Nobesuthu Mbadu, Hilda Tloubatla, Amanda Nkosi.
More information: www.facebook.com/TheMahotellaQueens.
Tags: World Music South Africa Zulu Mbaqanga Mahotella Queens Dancers Folk with Altitude Nest Collective Southbank Centre
© All Rights Reserved
22nd July 2015 at Purcell Room. London SE1.
“Folk with Altitude”, organised by the Nest Collective, thenestcollective.co.uk/ (Though this gig lacked the altitude. Fears about the weather led to what proved to be an unnecessary move from the Roof Garden).
Country: South Africa. Style: Mbaqanga.
Lineup: Hilda Tloubatla (v), Nobesuthu Mbadu (v), Amanda Nkosi (v) and guests: Count Drachma.
This Zulu vocal group came together in Johannesburg in 1964 with 7 singers, and continued until the early 1970s (an entirely new line-up then performed under that name until the mid 1980s). In 1987 the band was reformed with three of the originals: Mildred Mangxola, Hilda Tloubatla and Nobesuthu Getrude Mbadu. I saw them in 1988 at the Hackney Empire with Mahlathini and the Makgona Tsohle Band. Then again in 2006 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall performing a capella supporting Ladysmith Black Mambazo. This time there were again no instruments, apart from the occasional blast of pea whistles. Tloubatla and Mbadu are now in their 70s but still dancing energetically on stage (Mangxola was advised to stop touring a couple of years ago and has been repaced by Nkosi who is in her 20s).
In this photo: Hilda Tloubatla.
More information: www.facebook.com/TheMahotellaQueens.
Tags: World Music South Africa Zulu Mbaqanga Mahotella Queens Folk with Altitude Nest Collective Southbank Centre
© All Rights Reserved
22nd July 2015 at Purcell Room. London SE1.
“Folk with Altitude”, organised by the Nest Collective, thenestcollective.co.uk/ (Though this gig lacked the altitude. Fears about the weather led to what proved to be an unnecessary move from the Roof Garden).
Country: South Africa. Style: Mbaqanga.
Lineup: Hilda Tloubatla (v), Nobesuthu Mbadu (v), Amanda Nkosi (v) and guests: Count Drachma.
This Zulu vocal group came together in Johannesburg in 1964 with 7 singers, and continued until the early 1970s (an entirely new line-up then performed under that name until the mid 1980s). In 1987 the band was reformed with three of the originals: Mildred Mangxola, Hilda Tloubatla and Nobesuthu Getrude Mbadu. I saw them in 1988 at the Hackney Empire with Mahlathini and the Makgona Tsohle Band. Then again in 2006 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall performing a capella supporting Ladysmith Black Mambazo. This time there were again no instruments, apart from the occasional blast of pea whistles. Tloubatla and Mbadu are now in their 70s but still dancing energetically on stage (Mangxola was advised to stop touring a couple of years ago and has been repaced by Nkosi who is in her 20s).
In this photo: Hilda Tloubatla.
More information: www.facebook.com/TheMahotellaQueens.
Tags: World Music South Africa Zulu Mbaqanga Mahotella Queens Folk with Altitude Nest Collective Southbank Centre
© All Rights Reserved