Early career and life
As a young boy, Nkabinde would sing in choirs at Zulu wedding ceremonies (reference: GMPV 9, Mbaqanga at its Best!). However, when he became a teenager, his voice changed to be more deep than the other teenage boys in his choir. Initially, Nkabinde's parents thought he had been witched, his voice now all but a growl, and took him to a sangoma. Following this, Nkabinde joined his brother Zeph's choir, Alexander Black Mambazo (from which the Ladysmith group took its name). In the mid-1950s, Nkabinde moved to EMI Studios and began recording with female artists such as the Dark City Sisters and the African Jazz Queens.
Recording
In 1964, talent scout Robert Bopape recruited Nkabinde for commercial recording at the Gallo Record Company studios. Initially, Bopape paired him with a mbaqanga instrumental section, the Makgona Tsohle Band, who have been credited with inventing the mbaqanga style. Bopape also recruited nine women to dance and perform behind Nkabinde and the backing band, calling them the Izintombi zomgQashiyo (the Girls of Mqashiyo); however, later on that year Bopape rearranged the group and recruited 22-year-old Hilda Tloubatla to record in a new female choir to sing backing vocals for Nkabinde. Five women usually sung the main harmonies, and the name Mahotella Queens was originally just a recording name for all female groups to record under (see Mahotella Queens Membership for more details).
Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Nkabinde, the Mahotella Queens and the Makgona Tsohle Band would have hit songs throughout South Africa, such as early recordings of tracks that brought them to international attention in the 1980s. However, in 1971, Nkabinde fell out with Bopape over his treatment and went back to EMI. The Makgona Tsohle Band moved to record with Abafana Baseqhudeni, and the members of the Mahotella Queens retired to provide for their husbands and children.
Controversy
In 1975, Gallo Record Company decided to recruit five new women to create 'Mahotella B', a secondary group which recorded under the same names as the original Mahotella Queens. Whilst Nkabinde recorded with a new group, known as The Queens (unconnected with Mahotella Queens) and the Mahlathini Guitar Band, the 'B' Queens recorded with male group Abafana Baseqhudeni. However, after one album produced by the secondary unit, Izibani Zomgqashiyo, the group disbanded.
Comeback
In 1986, after mbaqanga had almost fallen out of favour, Nkabinde reunited with three of the original 1964-1971 line-up; Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola. They recorded the album Thokozile. After Paul Simon's collaboration with Ladysmith Black Mambazo on his Graceland album and tour, South African music was introduced to the world. Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens also reunited Nkabinde and the three Queens with the original Makgona Tsohle Band, and the album Thokozile was where they came to international attention. In France, the group became known with the single Kazet. The entire group contributed to the Art of Noise song Yebo!, in 1989.
Throughout the 1990s, the band toured the United States, Europe and Asia with success. They celebrated their 30th anniversary in 1994 with the album Stoki Stoki.
End of an era
The group delivered their last live performance in 1997. Nkabinde's health had worsened in the late 1990s, and the group recorded their last album together in 1998. In April 1999, Nkabinde died of a diabetes-related illness.
By the new millennium, all of the members of the Makgona Tsohle Band had died, and the Mahotella Queens decided to retire. However, in 2001, the group decided to return to help keep the music that Nkabinde had popularized alive. Forming a new backing band, the Mahotella Queens continues to record and perform, and paid tribute to Nkabinde and the original Makgona Tsohle Band on their critically acclaimed album Sebai Bai (2001).
Somebody
Mahlathini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ngizwa sengath'uyanqonqotha kant'uyamemeza
Somebody, somebody's knocking at my door
Kanti uwe mthakathi ndini
Somebody, somebody's knocking at my door
Ngizwa sengath'uyanqonqotha kant'uyamemeza
Oh somebody is knocking at my door
Hayi bo mthakathi ndini
Angibhengezwa
Angithintwa angenziwa njalo
Muhla ngibuyisel'ezam izinduku
Uzothi bab'enjeni futhi amadlozi afun'ingulube
Uzobuyek'ubuthakathi
Oh yeh madoda bengithi ngiyaganga
Kanti nginyathel'inyok'emsileni
Eshu wazigwaza ngowakho
Oh yeh madoda bengithi ngiyaganga
Kanti nginyathel'inyok'emsileni
Awu wazigwaza ngowakho
Oh yeh madoda bengithi ngiyaganga
Kanti nginyathel'inyok'emsileni
Umunt'akasukelwa engenzanga lutho bakini
Awubheke manje
Ngisukel'umnumzane ongathintwa
Ngaze ngazigwaza ngoni??
Ngazigwaza ngoni??
Ungabomthint'umuntu ngob'uphethe wuphi lomshayeli
Ngiyazisola manje
Ngab'angiwenzanga umhlola onjena
Ngisengxakini manje
Uhamb'ufun'abangcono abathakathi
Awubheke manje
Ngisukel'umnumzane ongathintwa
Ngaze ngazigwaza ngoni
Ngazigwaza ngoni
Heh he he ulayekile
Bukwehlulile ubuthakathi
Oh yeh madoda bengithi ngiyaganga
Kanti nginyathel'inyok'emsileni
Eshu wazigwaza ngowakho
Oh yeh madoda bengithi ngiyaganga
Kanti nginyathel'inyok'emsileni
Maye wazigwaza ngowakho
Oh yeh madoda bengithi ngiyaganga
Kanti nginyathel'inyok'emsileni
Waze wazigwaza ngowakho
Ngiyabuyeka lobuthakathi
Angeke ngiphinde ngigangel'umuntu
Hamba suka la mthakathi ndini
Ngiyabuyeka lobuthakathi
Angeke ngiphinde ngigangel'umuntu
Hey hamba kini
Ngiyabuyeka lobuthakathi
Angeke ngiphinde ngigangel'umuntu
Kwenzani lokumkhunkulu kimi?
Ngiyabuyeka lobuthakathi
Angeke ngiphinde ngigangel'umuntu
Bewuthi wenzani?
Ngiyabuyeka lobuthakathi
Angeke ngiphinde ngigangel'umuntu
Hamba kini ngeke
Ngiyabuyeka lobuthakathi
Angeke ngiphinde ngigangel'umuntu
The song "Somebody" by Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens is a deep and emotional song that speaks of the belief in witchcraft and the supernatural in some African communities. The lyrics express the fear and anxiety that people feel when they hear strange knocking at their doors, which they believe is a result of someone using witchcraft to seek harm or revenge. The singer feels this fear when someone knocks at their door and wonders if it is a witch or someone who is trying to harm them. They try to ward off the intruder by saying that they are not afraid of them and that they should leave with their evil intentions.
The lyrics also refer to the belief that these witches and sorcerers are able to transform themselves into animals, such as snakes, and use them to harm people. The singer mentions that the witches are asking for a snake to use to harm them, but they will never find one because they are protected by the spirits of their ancestors.
Overall, the song carries a strong message about the power of belief and the fear that it can instil in people. It also highlights the dangers of superstition and the need to be vigilant and protect oneself from harm.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody, somebody's knocking at my door
I hear someone knocking insistently and shouting for me.
Ngizwa sengath'uyanqonqotha kant'uyamemeza
I hear the urgency in their knocking and shouting.
Kanti uwe mthakathi ndini
I suspect that the one at the door is a wizard or witch.
Hayi bo mthakathi ndini
Oh no, it really is a sorcerer or witch.
Angibhengezwa
I am not easily fooled, I can sense their dark magic.
Angithintwa angenziwa njalo
I will not be tricked or trapped by their spells.
Muhla ngibuyisel'ezam izinduku
When I brought back the ancestral drums,
Uzothi bab'enjeni futhi amadlozi afun'ingulube
they said they wanted to summon the spirits and honor the ancestors.
Uzobuyek'ubuthakathi
But the sorcery and dark magic will never go away.
Oh yeh madoda bengithi ngiyaganga
I once thought I had the power, the strength to resist it.
Kanti nginyathel'inyok'emsileni
But now I realize that the python always lurks in the shadows.
Eshu wazigwaza ngowakho
Eshu, the trickster god, is playing with your mind and soul.
Awu wazigwaza ngowakho
Oh no, Eshu is deceiving you again.
Umunt'akasukelwa engenzanga lutho bakini
Do not judge the innocent, they do not deserve the wrath of the wicked.
Awubheke manje
Look at yourself now.
Ngisukel'umnumzane ongathintwa
I rise to confront the one who is stalking me.
Ngaze ngazigwaza ngoni??
Did I really see a vision, a ghost or a spirit?
Ungabomthint'umuntu ngob'uphethe wuphi lomshayeli
Do not accuse the innocent, blaming them for the evil one's actions.
Ngiyazisola manje
I am confessing now.
Ngab'angiwenzanga umhlola onjena
I did not commit such a terrible sin.
Ngisengxakini manje
I am in a dilemma now.
Uhamb'ufun'abangcono abathakathi
I am leaving to find someone who can help me defeat the wicked ones.
Heh he he ulayekile
Ha ha ha, you are the one who has been abandoned.
Bukwehlulile ubuthakathi
The dark magic has taken over completely now.
Maye wazigwaza ngowakho
Oh no, you are being deceived again.
Waze wazigwaza ngowakho
You were already under the spell and still are.
Ngiyabuyeka lobuthakathi
I am breaking free from the curse.
Angeke ngiphinde ngigangel'umuntu
I will never trust anyone easily again.
Hamba suka la mthakathi ndini
Go away, evil sorcerer or witch.
Hey hamba kini
Hey, why don't you just leave already?
Kwenzani lokumkhunkulu kimi?
What have I ever done to deserve such hate and punishment?
Bewuthi wenzani?
What did I do wrong?
Hamba kini ngeke
Just go away, don't come back.
Angeke ngiphinde ngigangel'umuntu
I will not allow anyone to control me or hurt me again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind