After winning the first Esther Mahlangu lifetime achievement award at the 17th Metro FM Music Awards on the weekend, Mafikizolo’s dynamic duo revealed that they have had an astonishing 26 years in the industry – a musical career that is almost impossible to comprehend.
It got me thinking: With such longevity, why haven’t they really received the recognition they deserve?
They have not only grown, but also moved with the times.
From their kwela music era to their transition to House, nothing seems like it is out of range for Mafikizolo.
In an emotional speech at the awards ceremony, lead singer Nhlanhla Mafu and composer Theo Kgosinkwe praised the early efforts of Tebogo Madingoane, the group’s third member who was shot and killed in 2004 in an alleged road rage incident.
It has just been the two of them since then.
However, the trio’s breakout song Lotto, released in 1997, came at a pivotal time in South African music. Lotto became a massive hit on radio stations and TV channels.
It was a loud proclamation that they had arrived, bringing with them a sound that highlighted the genesis of kwaito music.
Their next big hit was Kwela, which was released in 2003.
Although the group continued to churn out hits, this song quickly became a megahit and solidified their place in the local music arena.
Kwela was not only a catchy tune inspired by the pennywhistle and jazz, it was also the music that lingered on the streets and in the clubs frequented by black people in the 1950s.
Mafikizolo’s Kwela brilliantly brought black culture to the forefront of music again in a way that paid homage to their older roots.
It was unlike anything other music groups were doing at the time. The group was creating a movement and the three were its silent leaders.
This era was their strongest and it solidified their place as music heavyweights who were here to stay.
In fact, many of their songs are still enjoyed intergenerationally and remain an integral part of weddings and family celebrations.
After the death of Madingoane, songs such as the hit single Emlanjeni, released in 2005; their album Van Toeka Af, which dropped in the same year; and their project Six Mabone, which came in 2006, further solidified their place in the industry.
They continued to build on their unique sound.
Their discography would reintroduce the new duo to audiences with a sound that gave their music dimension and a rounder feel than what we had received from the group before that.
Unfortunately, not long after that release, the duo would take a long hiatus and go their separate ways.
Only one compilation album dropped in 2009, featuring a new song called Walila.
But the break seemed to have done Mafu and Kgosinkwe some good, because, when they reunited in 2013, they picked up from where they had left off.
Naturally, music had evolved, but no one expected what they would bring their fans in their highly anticipated comeback.
Mafikizolo released the perfect song that fitted in with the House-era the country was going through at the time.
The song Khona, featuring musical group Uhuru (made up of Nqobile Mahlanu, Sihle Dlalisisa, Xelimpilo Simelane and Themba Sekowe) off their album aptly titled Reunited, was a certified banger.
The song, which was frequently played on Metro FM and other radio stations, quickly reached millions of streams on YouTube and won them a whopping 12 SA Music Awards in one night.
In 2017, they would release their 20th album to celebrate their two decades in the music industry. And the album Idwala, released last year, had multiple hits that have been shared on social media platforms and on streaming apps such as YouTube.
The hit Love Potion has surpassed the 30 million streaming mark and Ngeke Balunge comes a close second with 24 million streams.
There is no doubting that Mafu and Kgosinkwe are living their life’s true purpose.
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In an industry that chews up and spits out most of its creatives, a career that surpasses the 25-year mark with consistent hits should be applauded.
Mafikizolo’s success is not only a result of their catchy tunes, but also a testament to their musical ear.
This duo’s ability to flourish in different genres within the South African musical soundscape puts them in the league of legends.
The duo shows no sign of slowing down and they continue to bless our ears with music that I’m certain will be entertaining our children’s children.
There is no telling what they will come up with next, and that unpredictability is the beauty of Mafikizolo, who truly are worthy recipients of the Esther Mahlangu lifetime achievement award.
