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Today’s extract is about Mahlathini.
Mahlathini – The Voice of the Bull
They called him Mahlathini – the Bull. He made several fortunes with his amazing voice. Simon Nkabinde grew up in Alexandra. He joined Big Voice Jack Lerole in a pennywhistle band. By 1955, at the age of 17, his voice had superhuman power.
In 1964 Simon met his destiny in the shape of producer Rupert Bopape – and the Mahotella Queens: Hilda, Nobesuthu and Mildred. Mqashiyo music was born. They burned up the airwaves until the early 70s, then split.
Disco was the new craze, and Simon fell on hard times. Until 1976 and his first big comeback, with a nationwide tour. Another slump lasted 10 years, until French talent scouts took Mahlatini and the Mahotella Queens to Paris. And “The Bull” was soon groaning his way to a third fortune.
They played stadium concerts in London and New York, then went on a world tour. In 1994 they celebrated 30 years in showbiz. Mahlathini went on writing songs and groaning into the nineties. But he had diabetes, and the voice of the bull was silenced on 27 July 1999. South African music will always mourn him – and continue to be inspired.
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