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#ThobelaThursday thread: Bongo Maffin - Kwaitos Golden Child.
A couple of announcements before we start.
1. Bongo Maffin has been active for 23 years now, I will not be covering all those years or solo careers because that would be its own thread
2. Unfortunately not a lot is documented so I tried my best to piece together timelines
1. Bongo Maffin has been active for 23 years now, I will not be covering all those years or solo careers because that would be its own thread
2. Unfortunately not a lot is documented so I tried my best to piece together timelines
Announcements:
3. We will be talking specifically about their work at the height of the kwaito revolution (1996 - 2007)
4. I tried finding video footage for everything but there's very little out there and the quality is not great
5. Enjoy
3. We will be talking specifically about their work at the height of the kwaito revolution (1996 - 2007)
4. I tried finding video footage for everything but there's very little out there and the quality is not great
5. Enjoy
Bongo Maffin is (usually) made up of 4 members. If Boom Shaka symbolized the sexual revolution of the rainbow nation youth, Bongo Maffin was the conscience awakening of Kwaito.
Decidedly political and multicultural they were the musical representation of the African renaissance.
Decidedly political and multicultural they were the musical representation of the African renaissance.
As with most of the kwaito generations stories, it all starts at Kalawa.
The Kalawa gang put together two rappers and a singer (Stoan, Speedy and Jahseed) from different backgrounds to form Bongo Maffin. Their first LP came out in early 1997 It was called Leaders Of D'gong.
The Kalawa gang put together two rappers and a singer (Stoan, Speedy and Jahseed) from different backgrounds to form Bongo Maffin. Their first LP came out in early 1997 It was called Leaders Of D'gong.
At the time 19 year old Wits student Thandiswa (then called Red) was a session and background singer who'd just had a huge dance floor kwaito hit with the group Jacknife in 1995 with Fester (Dal'uzobuya nini).
This is a classic.
This is a classic.
In 1997 they convince Thandiswa to join the group and what we know as Bongo Maffin is born.
Their first real hit is Makeba, a groove heavy rap song with a Pata Pata sample that takes over radio. Fun fact it's also the first song ever played on YFM. Bongo Maffin had arrived.
Their first real hit is Makeba, a groove heavy rap song with a Pata Pata sample that takes over radio. Fun fact it's also the first song ever played on YFM. Bongo Maffin had arrived.
The Bongo Maffin appeal was always their artistic approach to a genre that was looked down upon as non-musical and apolitical.
Miriam Makeba herself was pleased with the groups version of her song.
Miriam Makeba herself was pleased with the groups version of her song.
Their Makeba lead first album as a quartet Final Entry comes out in 1997. In the same was The Fugees were redefining Hip Hop in the states, Bongo Maffin were redefining Kwaito in SA. Hotel California, a ballad cover of the Eagles is their second hit of the year.
The year is 1998. We're 4 years into the rainbow nation. Kwaito has become the biggest genre amongst the South African youth and Bongo Maffin flip the continent on its head by releasing The Concerto.
The song is Thathi Sgubhu.
The song is Thathi Sgubhu.
The Concerto delivers another smash with an ode to the African ancestors with Amadlozi. At this point you couldn't escape these guys.
And yet another hit with Iphidlela. This used to go off at the creche.
1999 they release the follow up album IV. The first single is a banger called Mari Ye Phepha.
I maintain that their sound was defined in these years, I honestly can't imagine anyone else recording this.
I maintain that their sound was defined in these years, I honestly can't imagine anyone else recording this.
The group flips a Letta Mbuli classic into their next smash. Ndiphendule is yet another hit for the now SAMA award winning quartet.
Bonus clip of the group performing Mari Ye Phepha on Selimathunzi.
In 2000 Thandiswa takes time out of her busy schedule of being a continental superstar to help a jazz Legend Hugh Masekela with a duet. Thanayi is one of the biggest hits of the year.
We're not getting into the mess so let's just say Speedy leaves the group and move on.
Now a trio and the biggest group in the country. In 2002 Bongo Maffin releases Bongolution, the first kwaito album ever released worldwide.
The Way Kungakhona becomes a signature hit for the group (this song takes me back to being a kid immediately).
The Way Kungakhona becomes a signature hit for the group (this song takes me back to being a kid immediately).
At this point Bongo Maffin is touring extensively in the US and Europe they've shared stages with Boys II Men, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and many international acts.
Bongo is the first kwaito act to take the genre outside of the country becoming the poster kids of the genre.
Bongo is the first kwaito act to take the genre outside of the country becoming the poster kids of the genre.
They spend the rest of 2002/3 winning SAMA and KORA awards and touring across Europe and the US. After 6 years the group decides to take a hiatus to work on solo projects.
Okay so I said I wouldn't cover solo work because that could be its own thread but you can't talk about Bongo Maffin with mentioning that in 2004 Thandiswa Mazwai releases one of the greatest albums in South African music history.
Jah Seed does join her on one of her biggest hits Lahlumlenza. Honestly we don't talk enough about this album.
By 2005 Thandiswa is a SAMA winning multi-platinum solo success defining AfroPop as a genre.
In 2005 the groups comes back together and makes what's in my opinion their best album New Construction. The first single is an instant classic with a signature Bongo sound "Kura Uone".
The group would go on to win yet another SAMA for BEST group and headline the 46664 concert with abo Beyonce.
(we don't talk enough about how Stone basically originated the motswako rap subgenre).
(we don't talk enough about how Stone basically originated the motswako rap subgenre).
As promised I'm not going passed 2007.
The group disbanded again and everyone went on to have solo success. Last year they got back together (with Speedy) & dropped From Bongo With Love which bangs. Please support these icons and stream their music.
The group disbanded again and everyone went on to have solo success. Last year they got back together (with Speedy) & dropped From Bongo With Love which bangs. Please support these icons and stream their music.
Please follow my account, I'm gonna try and do one of these every Thursday. I'm currently working on next week's one which will be Brenda Fassie so it's a lot of research. Feel free to inbox me your suggestions for future #ThobelaThursday threads.
