Makgona Tsohle Band

The Makgona Tsohle band is a band from Soweto in South Africa. She became known worldwide as the backing band of the Mahotella Queens and the most important pioneer band of Mbaqanga sounds.

The name means something like " the source added ." Bandleader, producer and composer West Nkosi, he played saxophone and pennywhistle; Marks Mankwane († 1998) played lead guitar, rhythm guitar Vivian Ngubane, Joseph Makwela bass and Lucky Monama drums. These five men left their hometown of Pretoria and their civil occupations as domestic servants and moved to Johannesburg to work as a professional musician.

1964, at the sessions of their first recording, they were by Rupert Bopape, talent scout and house producer of the record company Gallo, with three permanent background singers, Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Shawe and Mildred Faith Mangxola, and Simon Nkabinde, a distinguished singer with a distinctive bass voice, sent to the studio. Out came the Single Train Orlando and this combination, which should be Makgoba Tsohle band with the Mahotella Queens Mahlathini and who have more than 30 years of existence and one of the most successful bands in the country. Orlando Train and the following LPs were chart successes. Especially their live performances made ​​them legendary. For their unique style to the name mgqashiyo prevailed, usually translated as indestructible beat or music who lives forever.

When the three Mahotella Queens, a ten-year career break appealed for to marry and to found families who Makgona Tsohle band initially went on with Mahlathini ( as on his solo album The Lion of Soweto ), but later also with the new Mahotella Queens ( by many fans were dismissed as B- Queens ). In 1986, the reunion of the original cast took place, and the plate Thokozile was taken. Further albums followed and numerous tours around the world.

• South African band