Thokozile is an album by the South African mbaqanga group Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, released in 1987.[1] The album was a reunion of Mahlathini with the backing Makgona Tsohle Band and three of the original Queens, Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola. The album (#Gallo-GRC BL 590) featured re-recordings of older songs such as "Umculo Kawupheli" (heard here as "Sibuyile") and "Sithunyiwe" ("Thokozile"). The album propelled the group into immediate international stardom when it was issued internationally on the Earthworks label.
| Thokozile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens | ||||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
| Genre | Mbaqanga | |||
| Length | 40:00 approx. | |||
| Label | Gallo Record Company | |||
| Producer | West Nkosi | |||
| Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens chronology | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[3] |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | [4] |
Robert Christgau deemed the album "professional dance music at its finest and roughest."[3] The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that "the music is dense with intertwining melody lines and urgent choruses."[4] The Sydney Morning Herald called Thokozile "a typically infectious set of township jive, though the production tends towards sterility."[5]
Track listing
edit- "Thokozile" ("Praise/Be Happy")
- "Lilizela Mlilizeli" ("Ululate/Applaud")
- "Sibuyile" ("We Are Back")
- "Nina Majuba" ("You Pigeons")
- "I Wanna Dance"
- "Uyavutha Umlilo" ("Music Inferno")
- "Sengikhala Ngiyabaleka" ("I'm Crying and Running Away")
- "Izulu Liyaduduma" ("Thunderstorm")
References
edit- ^ Meintjes, Louise. Sound of Africa!: Making Music Zulu in a South African Studio. Duke University Press. p. 272.
- ^ "Thokozile Review by j. poet". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ a b Tucker, Ken (29 May 1988). "Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens Thokozile". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F9.
- ^ Barber, Lynden (18 April 1988). "Virgin is currently light-years ahead...". The Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 5.