Nontsomi Mildred Mangxola (born 9 January 1944) is a South African ''

mbaqanga Mbaqanga () is a style of South African music with rural Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today. The style originated in the early 1960s. History Historically, laws such as the Land Act of 1913 to the Group Areas Ac ...

'' singer, and a singer in the acclaimed group the

Mahotella Queens The Mahotella Queens is a South African female band formed in 1964 by music producer Rupert Bopape, consisting of Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu, and Amanda Nkosi. The group is noted for their distinct vocal harmony sound, guitar-led mbaqan ...

. Mangxola was born in

Benoni, Gauteng Benoni is a town in Ekurhuleni municipality, Gauteng, South Africa. Benoni was also the setting for the MTV-inspired movie ''Crazy Monkey: Straight Outta Benoni'', released internationally in 2005. People from Benoni *Urzila Carlson, New Zeal ...

, South Africa, and loved singing from a young age. She was also a part of local girl group The Daveyton Queens.Info.gov.za, National Orders: Order of Ikhamanga, Mildred Mangxola , 2005.

Early life

Rupert Bopape, a talent scout with

Gallo Record Company Gallo Record Company is the largest (and oldest independent) record label in South Africa. It is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is owned by Arena Holdings. The current Gallo Record Company is a hybrid of two South African record label ...

, recruited Mangxola into a new female group, the

alongside fellow group members

Hilda Tloubatla Hilda Semola Tloubatla (born 1942) is a South African ''mbaqanga'' singer, and the lead singer of the acclaimed group the Mahotella Queens. Tloubatla was born in Payneville, South Africa before moving to kwaThema township in 1951 as a result of ...

Nobesuthu Mbadu Nobesuthu Gertrude Mbadu Shawe (26 April 1945 – 31 August 2021) was a South African ''mbaqanga'' singer, and a singer in the acclaimed group the Mahotella Queens. Early life Mbadu was born in Durban, South Africa and was raised by her father ...

, Juliet Mazamisa and Ethel Mngomezulu after seeing her perform with the Daveytons. The five Mahotella Queens were then paired with a mbaqanga instrumental team, the

Makgona Tsohle Band The Makgona Tsohle Band was a South African instrumental band that is noted for creating the mbaqanga music style. Mbaqanga is an acculturated popular South African music that emerged in the 19th century. Mbaqanga is also referred to as towns ...

and the gruff, "groaning" vocals of Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde, and the whole band received instant fame.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mangxola, Mildred 1944 births Living people Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens members Mbaqanga 20th-century South African women singers