Mahotella Queens

South African female band

The Mahotella Queens is a South African female band formed in 1964 by music producer Rupert Bopape, consisting of Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu, and Amanda Nkosi. The group is noted for their distinct vocal harmony sound, guitar led mbaqanga music, and fast stage dancing. Bopape was a talent scout and producer at the independent Gallo Africa's subsidiary dedicated to black music, Mavuthela Music Company. He formed the Mahotella Queens as the company's resident girl group and the ensemble, often led by the deep voiced male vocals of Simon 'Mahlathini' Nkabinde, went on to have many hit records during the 1960s. The Queens line up during this period usually comprised Hilda Tloubatla, Juliet Mazamisa, Ethel Mngomezulu, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola. The Queens and Mahlathini were backed by Mavuthela's house band, the Makgona Tsohle Band (including Marks Mankwane on lead guitar and West Nkosi on alto saxophone). In 1972 the line up of the Mahotella Queens disintegrated after royalty disagreements with Bopape; Mahlathini left the company in a similar dispute with the producer. However, with a change of membership, the Queens remained productive and popular into the 1970s and 1980s. In 1987, following the explosion of interest in South African music, the Queens line up was rejigged and three of its original singers – Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola – returned to the group. In combination with Mahlathini, the group forged a successful international touring career that lasts to this day. In spite of the deaths of Mahlathini, Marks Mankwane and West Nkosi during the late 1990s, the Mahotella Queens continue to perform and record in the 21st century. In 2013, long serving member Mildred Mangxola retired from the group. She was replaced by a new recruit, Amanda Nkosi. Nobesuthu Mbadu died in 2021.

Initially, Rupert Bopape formed a team of female singers that would record songs under various group pseudonyms. Some of the most successful early recordings had been issued with the same name, Mahotella Queens, and it was this name that became the most recognisable to listeners. The line up of the group would consist of five singers taken from a larger pool of vocalists that included Hilda Tloubatla, Juliet Mazamisa, Ethel and Francisca Mngomezulu, Mildred Mangxola, Nobesuthu Mbadu, Windy Sibeko, Mary Rabotapi (formerly of vocal group The Skylarks) and Nunu Maseko. The group completed a tour of Europe on 25 August 2007 in which they performed their new material at various WOMAD festivals. The Queens also performed at venues in South Africa during late 2007 and 2008. The Queens appeared as part of Pee Wee Ellis's show Still Black, Still Proud: An African Tribute to James Brown during 2010. South African jazz artist Hugh Masekela joined forces with the Mahotella Queens for a special UK tour for November 2010. Their performance in London's Southbank Centre was completely sold out. In 2013, the Mahotella Queens took part in a competition to find the theme song for the MTN 8 football tournament. They recorded a modern version of one of their best known hits, "Gazette/Kazet", accompanied by male singer Zamo and Kwaito star Brickz. In 2016 the group returned to mainstream success after being featured on rapper Cassper Nyovest's hit "Malome".

The Mahotella Queens are prolific recording artists, dating back to the hundreds of recordings produced at Gallo Mavuthela during their heyday in the 1960s and 1970s. The Queens remained with Gallo until 2005 when they joined an independent company led by former Gallo director Antos Stella. Despite the fact that the Queens recorded phenomenally throughout their career, only some of their older material is available to purchase. Most of the available material comprise recordings made after the late 1980s for the international audience.