Bongo Maffin
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Kwaito, Function Band, Party Band - Johannesburg
Bongo Maffin is a South African kwaito music group.
The group became famous for its hit albums such as
Thath'isigubhu. Its lead singer, Thandiswa Mazwai,
has since gone solo, releasing two albums, Zabalaza
and Ibokwe.
Bongo Maffin formed in 1996, starting as a project
of South African deejay Oscar. Appleseed, one of the
band members, was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and
brings a distinct reggae flavor to the group's
music. Another member, Stoan, began his musical
career as a singer for the kwaito band Thebe, while
Thandiswa (or Red as she if often called), joined in
1997 after working with them as a backup singer and
studio musician. The group's expansive and spiritual
take on the dance-oriented genre has been compared
to the Fugees' broadening of American hip-hop. The
comparison is reinforced by singer Thandiswa's
soulful crooning, which is reminiscent of the Fugees'
Lauryn Hill. Their common passion for music has had
a synergistic effect on their collective creativity.
The fourth member of the group, Speedy, has since
left the group and embarked on a solo career.
Bongo Maffin
With its unique sound and style, Bongo Maffin has
already become the World ambassadors of Kwaito, and
toured extensively internationally. The group has
been tapped for shows by international stars such as
Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Skunk Anansie and Boys II
Men. They also had the privilege to perform at
Nelson Mandela's birthday celebrations.
When
the Central Park Summer Stage Festival series wanted
to premiere Kwaito music in New York City in 2001,
the producers chose Bongo Maffin.
BONGO MAFFIN – NEW CONSTRUCTION
Bongo Maffin has been called many things,
many-a-times, in many countries, and yet what they
are, or do, as a band is simply this: use their
voices, bodies and souls as channels to a very
urgent, highly rhythmic, African spirit in the form
of music.
“New Construction” is multi-platinum selling,
multi-award winning, multitudes of hearts warming,
band’s sixth and most home coming album since their
major recording, “Concerto” featuring the township
slammer, “That ’Isghubu.”
Bongo Maffin
Appleseed was born and raised in Zimbabwe, but
brings a distinct Shona and reggae flavour to the
group's music. Stoan hails from Mmabatho in the
North West Province, and is a Tswana language
artist. Thandiswa, a Xhosa girl with roots in the
Eastern Cape, joined in 1997 after working with them
as a backup singer and studio musician. The group's
expansive and spiritual take on the dance-oriented
genre has been compared to the Fugees' broadening of
American hip-hop. Their common passion for music has
had a synergistic effect on their collective
creativity.
Bongo Maffin
The trio's music is firmly rooted in the rhythms of
house music, but they incorporate ragga, reggae,
dancehall, rap and contemporary R&B. The group,
however, also gives props to their homeland, adding
the sounds from South Africa's many homegrown
genres: the bouncy beats of mbaqanga, gospel and the
choral sound of iscathamiya made famous by Ladysmith
Black Mambazo.
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Bongo Maffin
-
Kwaito, Function Band, Party Band - Johannesburg
