Mafikizolo

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Last updated 26 07 11

Mafikizolo's Biography:

One of South Africa's most favourite music groups, Mafikizolo, is back with a brand new banging album after a well deserved two year break and this time they want to take their loyal fans on the musical journey of their lives. The transport for the journey is a Six Mabone - a classic car of the 60s-which is the title of their seventh album. Theo Kgosinkwe, the male member of the duo, says: "In the 60s, Six Mabone had the same status as BMW today. And our music is enjoyed by the young and the old. We are taking our fans back and forth." The latest album is the second without Tebza who was killed in a road rage accident three years ago. The new album has blues and swing elements and most of the songs were recorded with a live band. 

Nhlanhla Nciza, the female member of the group, insists that although they brought new elements on this album but they have used the same formula like their previous platinum selling albums. She said: "There is a bit of afro pop, kwela and marabi which have become our trademark. They say you must not fix something that is not broken and we are not going to mess with our winning formula." The album features a remark of Miriam Makeba's classic Walila - and they deserve a round of applause for doing justice to the song. Anybody who does a remark or remix of Miriam Makeba's song has to know his story very well and be brave enough to do so.

Nciza admitted: "Doing a remark of Mama Africa's song was one of the hard things to do, she is an international brand with a lot of followers and nobody must mess around with a musical icon like Miriam Makeba." Also on the album, they also featured a new up and coming stable mate, Zonke, on a song simple titled Flowers. There is a mind blowing slow jam called Khululeka which was produced by house music crew, Shaana. Without any doubt, the album shows Mafikizolo's musical growth - they have been in the industry for eight years and they have learned a lot. Kgosinkwe summarizes it the better when he says: "We have been to hell and back. God has been there for us always." 

Shortly after Mafikizolo shot to fame, they were involved in a near fatal car accident which left some of the band members in hospital for a couple of weeks. And when they began picking up the pieces and getting their feet back on the groove, Tebza was killed.

Six Mabone is an album that will make many people realise how rich South Africans are, musically and that with the right production team like Dangerous Combination Crew [DCC], Oscar "Oskido" Mdlongwa, Mandla "Spikiri" Mofokeng, Bruce "Dope" Sebitlo, Zynne "Mahoota" Sibika plus jazz maestro, Don Laka, behind you - you can keep the world on its dancing feet and win as many music award as possible. About their album, Nciza said: "Six Mabone is a kind of album that when you put into your sound system, you will never want to take it out for a long time."

And Kgosinkwe said: "Mafikizolo does not make albums for December but we make music that will last for a life time. Six Mabone is a must get album if you love and support South African music." Six Mabone will definitely cement Mafikizolo's status as one of the most singing sensational groups in South Africa and musical phenomena in Africa. 

Mafikizolo:

IN December 2001, the talented trio of Mafikizolo nearly perished in an accident when two of its members Nhlanhla Sibongile Mafu and Theo Kgosinkwe had to be hospitalised after their car was involved in a smash with a train in North West province. God's hand saved them and as they would explain, it brought them much closer. It made Mafu, Kgosinkwe and Tebogo Madingoane work even harder, and paid dividends with their resulting 2002 album, aptly titled "Sibongile", Zulu for Thank You God. The album was much sought after and they've been in demand to perform almost every week. 

It came as no surprise when Mafikizolo won two prestigious awards for the album Sibongile in April 2003. They won the Best Duo or Group and Best Afro Pop Album categories. Ironically, they went to collect both South African Music Awards at the same province, North West, at Sun City Superbowl, not far from where their near fatal accident occured. They were also honoured with a Metro FM-Cell C special award special in December 2002, and took the "Best Album"and other categories at the Metro FM music awards in November 2003. 

Having sold over 300 000 copies of their album "Sibongile", Mafikizolo remained extremely busy during 2002 and 2003 with live perfomances - appearing all over South Africa and the neighbouring countries like Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia and Botswana. They also performed in London in the United Kingdom and the United States of America at the international music conference in Miami. 

The enterprising group finally made history with their fourth, 11-track album "Sibongile", a rocking melange of traditional sounds, thumping bass of African house rhythms and a dose of 50s popular music genre marabi. The track "Ndihamba Nawe" - inspired by Sophie Mgcina's 1960's recording of 'Mmangwane' - has become an anthem in every show; the older followers - the grannies and grandaddies also sing-along to "Gug' Othandayo". 

In 2003, Mafikizolo is releasing a new album titled "Kwela", staying true to their latest style of marabi music and the 50s sounds where they build on the old days of Sophiatown. The new album is produced by Dangerous Crew Combination which consists of Mandla "Spikiri" Mofokeng, Zynne "Mahoota" Sibika, Oscar "Oskido" Mdlongwa and Bruce "Dope" Sebitlo. Even kwai-jazz musician Don Laka has co-produced the album. 

Songwriter/composer/singer Kgosinkwe, composer and rapper Madingoane and the delectable female lead singer and composer Mafu had targetted every listener - young, middle-age and old - and it paid dividends. Other members of the group who make things happen on stage include dancers Castro Mkhize, Maggie Simelane and Gugu Mbambama. 

Suddenly the name Mafikizolo is on everyone's lips and causing a storm in the clubs, outdoor and at corporate events. Indeed ... the kwaito group has grown by leaps and bounds since their best-selling 2000 album Gate Crashers, which featured the popular track "Majika" and "Loot". The album was also released in the United States, Europe and Asia by the evergreen Masters at Work. 

The group released its debut self-titled album "Mafikizolo" in 1997, which was followed by "Music Revolution" in 1999. With "Gatecrashers", the group stamped the authority in the music industry. 

The album "Sibongile" was produced by kwaito kingpin Oscar Mdlongwa of Brothers of Peace with the assistance of his 'dangerous dogs' like co-BOP member Bruce Sebitlo, Zane "Mahoota" Sibika, Mandla "Spikiri" Mofokeng, and, the result is a captivating collection that portrays kwaito as a very human - and very South African - form of expression. 

"We are trying to dispel the stereotype that kwaito is strictly about booze, partying and gangsterism," says Mafu, whose colourful Dame Edna sun-glasses have become her trademark. "There is more to kwaito. Our music deals with pertinent social issues such as women and children abuse, poverty, the importance of education and the dangers of casual sex." Adds Theo: "I think people have responded to the fact that kwaito can be entertaining and truthful; it can be emotionally powerful without being sentimental; and it can educate without being didactic." 

It is this positive attitude that has helped give Mafikizolo their highly individual character and respect not fully enjoyed by other kwaito groups. And after being involved a the 2001 car accident , the group has decided that they will not lose sight of the fact that God had a hand in their survival. In fact, they say, they are closer to each other than ever before. 

The trio's music in Sibongile is kwaito-cum-marabi house music for sure, full of bumpin' beats and basslines, bleeps and wonderful effects, yet it's raw and full of energy. They also boast a unique way with rugged raps and diva vocals delivered by Kgosinkwe and Mafu, especially on tracks like the eponymous "Sibongile", "Marabi", "Morena", "Bangradesh", and, of course the anthemic "Ndihamba Nawe".