Early years and Bongo Maffin
Thandiswa's first attempt to get noticed occurred at the Shell Road to Fame [10] talent show but Thandiswa did not even make it to the semi-finals round. She did, however, catch the eye of musician and producer Don Laka, who arranged to include her in a project he was working on. She also began her career in 1998 with Bongo Maffin, one of the pioneering bands of Kwaito. She became widely recognised as the voice of South Africa's conscious youth, their compositions consistently combining dance floor favourites with thought-provoking lyrics. They were invited to perform all over the world, and shared the stage with musical icons Stevie Wonder, the Marley clan, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Chaka Khan, Sean Paul, Steel Pulse and Skunk Anansie, among others. Their contribution to the South African musical cannon earned Bongo Maffin numerous awards, among them the South African Music Awards (SAMAs), the Kora All Africa Music Awards, and the Metro FM Music Awards. [11]
Going solo: Thandiswa
After five albums with Bongo Maffin, Thandiswa ventured onto a solo career. Her first project, Zabalaza (2004), reached double platinum status and won numerous awards, including a Kora award for Best African Female and four South African Music Awards, including Best Album. It was also nominated for the BBC Radio 3 Planet awards. Her second album, Ibokwe (2009), reached gold status in the first few weeks of its release and her live DVD, Dance of the Forgotten Free (2010), won Best Female Artist and Best Live DVD in 2011. The Guardian has called her "South Africa's finest female contemporary singer." [12]
Her music is often deeply political and her compositions include traditional Xhosa rhythms, Mbaqanga, reggae, kwaito and funk and jazz sounds.
Thandiswa has performed all over the world at venues, including at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony, The Apollo in New York, WOMEX, the Cannes Film Festival, Midem, the Hackney Empire, Africa Brazil Festival, FESPACO Film Festival, BBC World Music Awards and many Mandela 46664 concerts. She has several noteworthy collaborations. Among other collaborations, she sang in Xhosa with the US musician Meshell Ndegeocello on the albums The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams (2007, nominated for a Grammy), and The Omnichord Real Book (2023). At home in South Africa, Thandiswa has collaborated with illustrious musicians including Hugh Masekela, Stimela, the late Busi Mhlongo. Together with the rock band BLK JKS, Thandiswa performed as 'King Tha' vs. BLK JKS at the 2017 Afropunk Festival Johannesburg. [13]
In July 2012, she duetted with Paul Simon in Hyde Park, London, in his Graceland album's 25th anniversary concert. She sang the female vocals on "Under African Skies", which was originally sung by Linda Ronstadt on the Graceland album.
She is an ambassador for 46664 and an ambassador for the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
In early May 2022, Mazwai was featured by Spotify on Freedom Sounds: From Kwaito to Amapiano documentary. [14]
Her fourth studio album, Sankofa, was released on 10 May 2024. [15] [16] To further promote her album, Mazwai embarked on a three-city tour in support of Sankofa; the tour commenced at the Carnival City in Johannesburg on 11 May and concluded at Artscape in Cape Town on 20 July. [17] [18] [19]
The album earned her four awards for Best Female Artist of the Year, Best Produced Album of the Year, Best Engineered Album, and Best African Adult Contemporary Album at the 31st ceremony of South African Music Awards. [20] [21]
