Thandiswa Mazwai

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Thandiswa Mazwai (2015)

Thandiswa Mazwai (born March 31, 1976 in Transkei ) is a South African singer and songwriter .

Life

Mazwai was born in what was then the homeland of Transkei. Her mother Belede Mazwai and her father Thami Mazwai, both Xhosa , were journalists and anti- apartheid activists. Thandiswa Mazwai grew up in Soweto . Inspired by Hugh Masekela , she began to be interested in making music. She studied English literature and international relations at the University of the Witwatersrand . Her political role models include Steve Biko , Frantz Fanon , Chinua Achebe and Kwame Nkrumah .

In 1993 Mazwai made her debut as a professional musician: She appeared in the production of SA Love at the Market Theater . In 1996 she became the singer of the band Jacknife, a trio with Kimon Webster and Themba Smuts, who were among the first Kwaito musicians. She was also the backing singer for the band Bongo Maffin , who also played Kwaito, but also recorded other styles of music. In 1997 she became the lead singer of the band, who recorded five albums during that time, received numerous awards and performed with musicians such as Stevie Wonder , Ladysmith Black Mambazo , Chaka Khan and Sean Paul .

In 2004 Mazwai's first solo album Zabalaza (German "Rebellion") was released, which was twice platinum . Mazwai received the Kora Award for "Best African Singer" and received two awards for Zabalaza at the South African Music Awards , including "Best Album". In 2005 she appeared on Bongo Maffin's last album, New Construction . In 2010 Thandiswa Mazwai appeared at the opening ceremony for the 2010 Soccer World Cup . Her 2016 album Delede - named after her mother - contains cover versions of South African jazz songs and protest songs .

In their music, Mazwai combines traditional Xhosa rhythms with mbaqanga , reggae , kwaito, funk and jazz . Many of their lyrics are political. Occasionally she performs with a traditional stick in hand. She has worked with numerous South African musicians such as Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo and Stimela and appeared on Paul Simon's Graceland 25th Anniversary Tour . At the Afropunk Festival Johannesburg in 2017 she performed together with the South African rock band BLK JKS as "King Tha" vs. BLK JKS on.

Thandiswa Mazwai has a daughter with a former bandmate. Mazwai's younger sisters Ntsiki Mazwai and Nomsa Mazwai are also singers.

reception

The British Guardian described Mazwai as "one of the hottest musical voices in the country". Her nickname is King Tha .

Awards as a solo artist

  • 2004: Kora Award for Best Female Artist, Africa
  • 2004: Kora Wward as Best Female Artist, Southern Africa
  • 2005: South African Music Award for Best Female Artist
  • 2005: South African Music Award: Best African Contemporary Album for Zabalaza
  • 2010: South African Music Award for Best Female Artist
  • 2010: South African Music Award: Best African Contemporary Album for Ibokwe
  • 2011: South African Music Award for Best Female Artist
  • 2011: South African Music Award: Best Contemporary DVD for Dance of the Forgotten Free

Discography

Albums

  • 2004: Zabalaza (Universal Music)
  • 2009: Ibokwe (Gallo)
  • 2010: Dance of the Forgotten Free (Gallo, Live-DVD)
  • 2016: Belede (Gallo)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Official website (English), accessed on January 28, 2018
  2. ↑ a b Margie Orford (Ed.): Life and soul: portraits of women who move South Africa. Juta, Cape Town 2006, ISBN 9781770130432 . Excerpts from books.google.de
  3. ↑ a b c portrait at allmusic.com (English), accessed on January 28, 2018
  4. ↑ Sisonke Labase: "I can never predict what music will do to me on stage" - Thandiswa Mazwai. channel24.co.za from August 18, 2017, accessed January 29, 2018
  5. ↑ Thandiswa Mazwai joins Paul Simon tour. channel24.co.za from June 15, 2012 (English), accessed on January 29, 2018
  6. ↑ Lerato Matsoso: BLK JKS ready to rock. In: Daily Sun. December 6, 2017, accessed January 9, 2019 .
  7. ↑ Phiona Okumu: The playlist: African - Thandiswa Mazwai, Maleh, Somi and more. The Guardian, March 23, 2015, accessed January 28, 2018
  8. ↑ How King Tha built her throne. City Press dated November 19, 2018, accessed May 25, 2019
personal data
SURNAME Mazwai, Thandiswa
ALTERNATIVE NAMES King Tha (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION South African singer and songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH March 31, 1976
PLACE OF BIRTH Transkei