Born in South Africa on March 31, 1976, Thandiswa Nyameka Mazwai is a musician best known for being Bongo Maffin’s lead singer and songwriter. King Tha is another name for her. Her double platinum debut album Zabalaza (2004) received a nomination for a Planet Award on BBC Radio 3, and it also achieved success.
Biography Profile of Thandiswa Mazwai
Full name : Thandiswa Mazwai
Gender : Female
Age : 48 years old
Date of birth : 31 March 1976
Place of birth : Mqanduli, Eastern Cape province
Nationality : South African
Occupation : Singer
Genres : Traditional Rhythm, Mbaqanga, Funk, Jazz, Afro house, Afrosoul, Kwaito
Instagram : @thandiswamazwai
Facebook : Thandiswa Mazwai
Early life
Born in the Eastern Cape during the Soweto Uprising in 1976, Thandiswa Mazwai spent the majority of his childhood in Soweto, Johannesburg, during the height of the apartheid township violence in the 1980s. She remembers that her home was a hive of political conversations and books, as both of her parents, Belede and Thami Mazwai, were political activists against apartheid. Her artistic perspective was fostered by this environment. [1]
Education of Thandiswa
She then continued her education by enrolling at Wits University to study international relations and English literature. Her mother, who passed away when Thandiswa was fifteen, as well as the writings of authors like Steve Biko, Frantz Fanon, Chinua Achebe, and Kwame Nkrumah have always served as inspiration for her work.
Personal life
They enjoy a healthy rivalry as siblings, and she is Nomsa Mazwai’s sister. Additionally, she goes by Thandiswa Mazwai Belede in remembrance of her mother Belede, who passed away in 1992 at the age of 34. In addition, Ntsiki Mazwai, a poet, writer, producer, social activist, and blogger, is her sister. She was dating Stoan Seate when she was a member of the Jack-Knife. In fairness, she was then outspoken about her sexual orientation. Malika, the couple’s lovely infant daughter, was born. Despite their separation, they continue to coparent Malika, who has developed into a stunning young lady.
Despite her intense privacy, Thandiswa has been unable to conceal her deep love. She has reportedly been dating her partner for some time, but little is known about the specifics of their relationship. All that appears to be known about her is that she goes by Anika and brings Thandiswa great joy.
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Career of Thandiswa Mazwai
Themba Smuts, Kimon Webster, and Thandiswa were all members of Jack-Knife . The group achieved club success with songs like “Fester” and “Chommie,” and they were considered as forerunners of the kwaito movement.
Thandiswa’s first opportunity to gain recognition was at the Shell Road to Fame talent competition, but she was unable to advance past the semifinals. Nevertheless, she did attract the attention of producer and musician Don Laka, who made arrangements for her to be a part of a project he was working on. In 1998, she also started her career with Bongo Maffin, one of the original Kwaito bands. She rose to prominence as the voice of South Africa’s conscious youth, whose songs constantly fused popular dance tracks with thought-provoking verse. [2]
They received invitations to play all over the world, sharing the stage with such legendary acts as Steel Pulse, Chaka Khan, Sean Paul, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Stevie Wonder, and the Marley clan. Bongo Maffin won multiple accolades for his contributions to South African music, including the Metro FM Music Award, the Kora All Africa Music Award, and the South African Music Award.
Going solo: Thandiswa
Following five albums as part of Bongo Maffin, Thandiswa started a solo career. Four South African Music Awards, including Best Album, and a Kora award for Best African Female were among the many accolades her debut project, Zabalaza (2004), garnered. It also achieved double platinum status. Additionally, it was a BBC Radio 3 Planet awards nominee.
Within weeks of its release, her second album, Ibokwe (2009), became gold, and in 2011 her live DVD, Dancing of the Forgotten Free (2010), took home the titles of Best Live DVD and Best Female Artist. She is referred to as “South Africa’s finest female contemporary singer” by The Guardian.Her compositions incorporate traditional Xhosa rhythms, Mbaqanga, reggae, kwaito, funk, and jazz sounds, and are frequently intensely political.
Thandiswa has given performances all over the world, including at the BBC World Music Awards, the Cannes Film Festival, the Africa Brazil Festival, the Hackney Empire, The Apollo in New York, WOMEX, the FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony in 2010, the Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and numerous Mandela 46664 concerts. She has worked on a number of notable projects together.
More Information
She and US musician Meshell Ndegeocello collaborated on several projects, including the 2007 Grammy-nominated album The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams and the 2023 album The Omnichord Real Book, where she sang in Xhosa. In her native South Africa, Thandiswa has shared the stage with such legendary performers as Busi Mhlongo, Stimela, and Hugh Masekela. Thandiswa gave a performance as “King Tha” vs. BLK JKS at the 2017 Afropunk Festival Johannesburg, accompanied by the rock group.
She performed in a duet with Paul Simon at the 25th anniversary concert of his Graceland album in July 2012 in Hyde Park, London. She performed the female vocals for the song “Under African Skies,” which was featured on the Graceland album originally performed by Linda Ronstadt. Both the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and 46664 are represented by her as ambassadors. Mazwai was highlighted on Spotify’s Freedom Sounds: From Kwaito to Amapiano documentary in the beginning of May 2022.
Net worth of Thandiswa Mazwai
Regarding her private life, Thandiswa Mazwai is an extremely private person. Furthermore, there is nothing more personal than money. Nevertheless, rumors suggest that her estimated worth is R500 000. She makes the most of her money through performances and album sales. [3]
Discography
. Belede
. Dance of the Forgotten Free
. Ibokwe
. Zabalaza
. Bongo Maffin
. From Bongo With Love
. New Construction
. Bongolution
. The Concerto
. Final Entry
