1. Thandiswa Nyameka Mazwai was born on 31 March 1976 and is a South African musician, and was the lead vocalist and songwriter of Bongo Maffin.
17 Facts About Thandiswa Mazwai
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Thandiswa Mazwai went on to attend Wits University, where she studied English Literature and International Relations.
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Thandiswa Mazwai's work has always been inspired by her mother and the writings of people such as Steve Biko and Frantz Fanon, Chinua Achebe and Kwame Nkrumah.
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Thandiswa Mazwai is a sister to Nomsa Mazwai, with whom they have a healthy sibling rivalry.
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Thandiswa Mazwai goes by the name Thandiswa Mazwai Belede, in honour of her mother Belede, who died at the age of 34 in 1992.
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Thandiswa Mazwai is a sister to the poet Ntsiki Mazwai, who is an author, social activist, producer, and blogger.
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Thandiswa Mazwai was a member of Jack-Knife, with Kimon Webster and Themba Smuts.
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Thandiswa Mazwai did catch the eye of musician and producer Don Laka, who arranged to include her in a project he was working on.
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Thandiswa Mazwai began her career in 1998 with Bongo Maffin, one of the pioneering bands of Kwaito.
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Thandiswa Mazwai became widely recognised as the voice of South Africa's conscious youth, their compositions consistently combining dance floor favourites with thought-provoking lyrics.
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Thandiswa Mazwai's music is often deeply political and her compositions include traditional Xhosa rhythms, Mbaqanga, reggae, kwaito and funk and jazz sounds.
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Thandiswa Mazwai 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.
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At home in South Africa, Thandiswa Mazwai has collaborated with illustrious musicians including Hugh Masekela, Stimela, the late Busi Mhlongo.
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Together with the rock band BLK JKS, Thandiswa Mazwai performed as 'King Tha' vs BLK JKS at the 2017 Afropunk Festival Johannesburg.
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Thandiswa Mazwai sang the female vocals on "Under African Skies", which was originally sung by Linda Ronstadt on the Graceland album.
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Thandiswa Mazwai is an ambassador for 46664 and an ambassador for the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
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In early May 2022, Thandiswa Mazwai was featured by Spotify on Freedom Sounds: From Kwaito to Amapiano documentary.