Sello Chicco Twala

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Sello Chicco Twala
Birth nameSello Twala
Also known asChicco Thwala
Born (1963-06-05) 5 June 1963 (age 61)
Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa
Genres Afropop

Sello "Chicco" Twala (born June 5, 1963) is a South African singer and record producer. He has produced many hit singles for well-known artists in the country, including Nkosana Kodi and Brenda Fassie. [1] [2] [3] [4] In the 1970s, he played in soul bands including Umoja and Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse's Harari, as well as forming his own band, Image. [5]

Contents

Early life

Twala was born in Soweto, Johannesburg, where he attended Bopasanatla High School. [5]

Career

Twala rose to prominence in the 1980s, writing a string of hit singles [6] such as We Miss You Manelo (1987), which was certified triple-platinum by RISA, as well as Brenda Fassie's Too Late for Mama (1989), which was certified platinum. The title of the former is a reference to Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned on Robben Island at the time. [7]

In 1992, Twala recorded a soul ballad entitled Peace Song, shortly before the nation's first democratic elections in 1994. [8] [9] He also collaborated with poet Mzwakhe Mbuli on Papa Stop The War (1990). Twala also wrote songs for and produced the album Memeza (1997) as part of a comeback by Brenda Fassie. [10] [11] Some of Twala's songs feature in Lion King II .

Through his music studio in Soweto, he works to help develop young musical artists' careers. He has won various awards, such as a Lifetime Achievement South African Music Award [12] [13] and a Metro FM Music Award. [14]

Twala's song Modjadji was featured on the official soundtrack of the film Grimsby. [15]

Personal life

Sello Twala is the son of Elias Twala and Betty Khombo Masitha. He was married to Thembi and they had 3 children, Longwe,Lamiez and Nowie. He got another son named Sello Twala.

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<i>Memeza</i> 1997 studio album by Brenda Fassie

Memeza is an album recorded by Brenda Fassie and Sello Chicco Twala in 1997. The album was released on 3 November 1997, the same day as Brenda's birthday. It was the best selling album in South Africa in 1997. The album went Platinum on the day of its release & sold over 100 000 in a week of its release. The album went to sell 700,000 copies in South Africa.

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<i>Amadlozi</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Brenda Fassie

Thola Amadlozi is a studio album recorded by South African singer Brenda Fassie and produced by Sello Chicco Twala. The album sold over 350,000 copies in South Africa and won the Best Selling Album of the Year award at 2001 South African Music Awards.

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<i>Mali</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Brenda Fassie

Mali is the eighteenth studio album by South African singer Brenda Fassie, Released on June 7, 2003, by CCP Records. Brenda Fassie produced the album alongside Sello "Chicco" Twala. Additional artists who contributed vocals to the album include Freddie Gwala.

<i>Black President</i> (Brenda Fassie album) 1990 studio album by Brenda Fassie

Black President is the sixth studio album by South African singer Brenda Fassie. It was released on March 9, 1990, by CCP Records. The album was her sixth release for the CCP Records and is her more political record to date.

Black President is a song by South African singer Brenda Fassie. It is the sixth track on her sixth studio album, Black President (1990), It was written by Sello "Chicco" Twala, Brenda Fassie, and produced by Twala and released on February 8, 1990 through CCP Records.

<i>Mina Nawe</i> 2001 studio album by Brenda Fassie

Mina Nawe is the fifteenth studio album by South African singer Brenda Fassie. The record was released on November 2, 2001, by CCP Records. Fassie wrote most of the album's songs with Sello Chicco Twala.

Colbert Rudzani Mukwevho is a South African reggae musician and producer. Mukwevho was granted an honorary doctorate of Philosophy in Arts and Social Sciences by the University of Venda. This is how he came to be called Dr. Mukwevho.

References

  1. "Gospel singer Nkosana Kodi dies". Sowetan Live, 23 June 2014.
  2. Diane Coetzer, "South Africa's Fassie In Critical Condition", Billboard Biz, 28 April 2004.
  3. Mzilikazi wa Afrika (20 August 2014). Nothing Left to Steal. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 226–. ISBN   978-0-14-353140-1.
  4. Lauren Beukes (2004). Maverick: Extraordinary Women from South Africa's Past. Oshun. pp. 1–. ISBN   978-1-77007-050-9.
  5. 1 2 Max Mojapelo (2008). Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. pp. 12–. ISBN   978-1-920299-28-6.
  6. David Bellin Coplan (1 January 1992). In township tonight!: musique et théâtre dans les villes noires d'Afrique du Sud. KARTHALA Editions. pp. 392–. ISBN   978-2-86537-341-3.
  7. Sandra Hayes (20 December 2004). Who's Who of Southern Africa 2004. Taylor & Francis.
  8. Accent. ABC Press. 1993.
  9. South African Pressclips. Barry Streek. January 1992.
  10. Simon Broughton; Mark Ellingham; Richard Trillo (1999). World Music: Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Rough Guides. pp. 655–. ISBN   978-1-85828-635-8.
  11. Binyavanga Wainaina (1 November 2005). Kwani? 01. Kwani Archive Online. pp. 89–. ISBN   978-9966-9836-0-2.
  12. "Sello Chicco Twala Receives Lifetime Music Achievement Award (Draft Resolution)". Peoples Assembly
  13. "Pop star shows no mercy at Wawela Awards". ENCA/
  14. "12th Metro FM Music Awards" Channel 24.
  15. "Grimsby (2016) - Soundtracks". IMDB . Retrieved 7 January 2023.