Thokozile
1987 studio album by Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens
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Thokozile is an album by the South African mbaqanga group Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, released in 1987.[1] The album was a reunion of Mahlathini with the backing Makgona Tsohle Band and three of the original Queens, Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola. The album (#Gallo-GRC BL 590) featured re-recordings of older songs such as "Umculo Kawupheli" (heard here as "Sibuyile") and "Sithunyiwe" ("Thokozile"). The album propelled the group into immediate international stardom when it was issued internationally on the Earthworks label.
| Thokozile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens | ||||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
| Genre | Mbaqanga | |||
| Length | 40:00 approx. | |||
| Label | Gallo Record Company | |||
| Producer | West Nkosi | |||
| Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens chronology | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[3] |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | [4] |
Robert Christgau deemed the album "professional dance music at its finest and roughest."[3] The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that "the music is dense with intertwining melody lines and urgent choruses."[4] The Sydney Morning Herald called Thokozile "a typically infectious set of township jive, though the production tends towards sterility."[5]
Track listing
- "Thokozile" ("Praise/Be Happy")
- "Lilizela Mlilizeli" ("Ululate/Applaud")
- "Sibuyile" ("We Are Back")
- "Nina Majuba" ("You Pigeons")
- "I Wanna Dance"
- "Uyavutha Umlilo" ("Music Inferno")
- "Sengikhala Ngiyabaleka" ("I'm Crying and Running Away")
- "Izulu Liyaduduma" ("Thunderstorm")