Makgona Tsohle Band
| Company type | Instrumental ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Headquarters | South Africa |
| Products | Mbaqanga music |
The Makgona Tsohle Band was an instrumental ensemble from South Africa, widely recognized for pioneering the mbaqanga genre—a vibrant South African musical style also referred to as township jive. Established in 1964 under Mavuthela, the division of Gallo Record Company dedicated to 'black music,' they became the label’s resident band and achieved prominence by supporting artists such as Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens. Their influence in the music industry has often drawn comparisons to Motown's The Funk Brothers.
Early Years: 1956 – 1964
The founding members originally worked as domestic staff in Pretoria. West Nkosi, born in Nelspruit in 1940, relocated to Pretoria at age sixteen seeking employment opportunities. By 1957, Nkosi held jobs as a market porter and household servant, while playing pennywhistle kwela melodies during his free time, inspired by his musical hero Spokes Mashiyane. Two other domestic workers, Joseph Makwela and Lucky Monama, convinced Nkosi to instruct them in music, which led to the creation of The Pretoria Tower Boys. Initially, Nkosi played pennywhistle before switching to saxophone in the early 1960s; Monama also played pennywhistle, while Makwela handled guitar duties. Occasionally, they crossed paths with another pennywhistle group led by guitarist Marks Mankwane, known for his refined technique.
In 1962, Nkosi, Monama, and Makwela relocated to Johannesburg with aspirations of entering the recording industry. They became session musicians at Gallo Record Company, joining producer Reggie Msomi's Hollywood Jazz Band—Nkosi on saxophone, Monama on drums, and Makwela becoming South Africa’s first black electric bassist. In mid-1963, Msomi took the band on a tour through Northern Rhodesia (present-day Zambia), but political turmoil limited audience turnout and left them stranded for six months. Upon their return to Johannesburg, they discovered that Gallo had undergone significant restructuring.
Peak Period: 1963 – 1977
While Msomi and his Jazz Band were touring Zambia, Gallo’s management capitalized on the chance to expand their 'black music' division by hiring EMI South Africa producer and talent scout Rupert Bopape. Renowned for his earlier work with groups like the Dark City Sisters and Alexandra Black Mambazo during the 1950s, Bopape founded a Gallo subsidiary focused on black music called Mavuthela Music Company in early 1964. After the Jazz Band returned, Bopape brought in Vivian Ngubane (rhythm guitarist) and Marks Mankwane, who introduced a fresh up-tempo electric guitar approach that diverged from traditional kwela and marabi jazz styles. Makwela, Nkosi, and Monama auditioned for Mavuthela and recorded with them in mid-1964. During a jam session, these five musicians blended marabi, kwela rhythms, and modern electric instrumentation with traditional sounds from Zulu, Sotho, and Xhosa cultures. Bopape assembled them into the Makgona Tsohle Band in 1963. Their groundbreaking fusion was labeled mbaqanga, a term initially used pejoratively but which ultimately became synonymous with the genre itself.
To market mbaqanga more effectively, Bopape created a female vocal ensemble to perform alongside Makgona Tsohle and introduced Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde—a deep-voiced "groaner"—as their lead singer. This collaboration gave rise to the "mgqashiyo" style—meaning "to bounce"—reflecting its lively rhythm. The female vocalists performed under various names such as Izintombi Zomgqashiyo, The Dima Sisters, and most famously as the Mahotella Queens. Through their hit singles, the Mahotella Queens became emblematic of mbaqanga music. Together with Mahlathini and Makgona Tsohle Band, they earned widespread recognition throughout Africa and internationally.
Throughout the late 1960s into the 1970s, despite changes in personnel, the Mahotella Queens and Makgona Tsohle maintained high productivity. However, after Rupert Bopape suffered a stroke in 1977 leading to his retirement, former Mavuthela producers Marks Mankwane, West Nkosi, and Lucky Monama moved into full-time production roles. This transition resulted in the disbandment of Makgona Tsohle and a decline in the Mahotella Queens’ popularity as disco and soul genres began overshadowing local mbaqanga sounds.
Reunion and Global Recognition: 1983 – 1999
In 1982, South Africa's inaugural television channel aimed at black viewers, TV3 (currently known as SABC 1), was introduced. This development led West Nkosi, the leading producer at Mavuthela, to collaborate with Trilion Entertainment to develop a new TV series showcasing the Makgona Tsohle Band. The following year, Mathaka, a soap opera combined with musical comedy featuring the band members portraying garage workers who play music during their breaks, debuted and quickly became widely popular. To complement the show, Nkosi released two albums: Mathaka Vol 1 and Kotopo Vol 2.
Although the series achieved success, the band members expressed dissatisfaction over inadequate compensation, resulting in its cancellation in 1984. Subsequently, Marks Mankwane reassembled the original lineup of the Mahotella Queens (Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu, Mildred Mangxola, Ethel Mngomezulu, and Juliet Mazamisa) alongside Mahlathini to produce the comeback record Amaqhawe Omgqashiyo, which attained strong sales.
The worldwide surge of interest in African music during 1986, largely inspired by Paul Simon's Graceland, elevated artists such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba, and Hugh Masekela. Responding to this demand, West Nkosi produced the 1987 album Thokozile, featuring Mahlathini, three Mahotella Queens (Tloubatla, Mbadu, Mangxola), and Makgona Tsohle. This release propelled the group onto international stages, television broadcasts, and invitations for personal appearances.
In August 1998, West Nkosi was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed; he passed away in October of the same year. On the day of his funeral, Marks Mankwane succumbed to complications from diabetes. Mahlathini died the following year, marking the conclusion of the Makgona Tsohle Band’s influential period.
Though deeply affected by these losses, the Mahotella Queens regrouped with new supporting musicians to pay tribute to Nkosi, Mankwane, and Mahlathini. Their acclaimed albums following Mahlathini’s passing include Sebai Bai (2000), Bazobuya (2004), Kazet (2006), and Siyadumisa (2007). The current lineup of backing musicians consists of Victor Mkize on lead guitar, James Nkosi on drums, and Arnold Jackie Mokoatlo on keyboards.