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 60)
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]

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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.
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