Your Guide to
the African Beat
in Los Angeles

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Sunday 14 July 7:00
Hollywood Bowl

Sunday 17 Aug 5:30PM & 7:30PM   $7
San Juan Capistrano   $7

The Mahotella Queens come from South Africa. In 2000 they received the WOMAD award for Lifetime Achievement. They used to be accompanied by Mahlathini, "Lion of Soweto" also known as "King of the Groaners" for the singing style he invented in the 1950's, but he passed away in July 1999 (this is one of the seminal events that caused me to start photographing the African shows I attend). Together their band invented the "mbanqanga" style of music in the early 1960's which is a combination of popular music of the townships and imported music mixed together. The name comes from a soup that the poor made by mixing together whatever was handy with a broth. Some people claim Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens were the most popular group ever from the southern hemisphere, the "Beatles of South Africa". They were certainly the first to sweep the continent with huge sales of record albums in most of the countries.

The Mahotella Queens dress in traditional colorful costumes and perform elaborate group dance steps while they sing. They have been performing for nearly 40 years, yet the music ages with them unlike the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith. They are so important in the history of South African music that they should not be missed!

For more background on Mahlathini, read this article written just after he passed away.

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