TKZee is a South African
kwaito
Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 1990s. It is a variant of house music that features the use of African sounds and samples. Kwaito songs occur at a slower tempo range than other styles of h ...
music group formed in 1990s by three school friends, Tokollo Tshabalala,
Kabelo Mabalane
Kabelo Mabalane (born 15 December 1976), known by his stage name as Kabelo or Bouga Luv, is a South African kwaito musician, songwriter and actor. He is a member of the kwaito trio TKZee. He has opened shows for world famous musicians such as Ja ...
, and
Zwai Bala
Zwai Bala (born 15 February 1975) is a South African kwaito and gospel musician.
Education
Bala studied at the Drakensberg Boys' Choir School, near Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, and matriculated at St Stithians College in 1994. He then pursued ...
. The group shot to prominence in late 1997 and early 1998 with their chart-topping singles "Phalafala" and "Shibobo".
1996 their debut EP was released titled ''Take It Easy'', but did not sell well. December 1997 the group released their second EP "Phalafala", sampling
Joni Mitchell
Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell ( Anderson; born November 7, 1943) is a Canadian-American musician, producer, and painter. Among the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit, Mitchell became known for her sta ...
's "
Big Yellow Taxi
"Big Yellow Taxi" is a song written, composed, and originally recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell in 1970, and originally released on her album '' Ladies of the Canyon''. It was a hit in her native Canada (No. 14) as well as Aust ...
". The song became a hit, with the CD single selling over 100,000 units. The group's next big release was in the run-up to the
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup was the 16th FIFA World Cup, the football world championship for men's national teams. The finals tournament was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. The country was chosen as the host nation by FIFA for the ...
. In collaboration with
Bafana Bafana
The South Africa national soccer team represents South Africa in men's international soccer and it is run by the South African Football Association, the governing body for Soccer in South Africa. The team's nickname is Bafana Bafana (The Boys/G ...
and then-
Ajax
Ajax may refer to:
Greek mythology and tragedy
* Ajax the Great, a Greek mythological hero, son of King Telamon and Periboea
* Ajax the Lesser, a Greek mythological hero, son of Oileus, the king of Locris
* ''Ajax'' (play), by the ancient Greek ...
striker
Benni McCarthy
Benedict Saul "Benni" McCarthy (born 12 November 1977) is a South African coach and former footballer who is a first-team coach at Manchester United. He previously worked as head coach of South African Premier Division team AmaZulu.
A former fo ...
, the group produced the third EP ''Shibobo'' in June 1998. The song, which contained samples of
Europe's
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entire ...
''The Final Countdown'' and featured McCarthy rapping on some of the lyrics, was an instant success. Sales topped the 100 000 mark in just over a month, a feat which made ''Shibobo'' the fastest and biggest selling CD single by a South African recording artist in history. They quickly became household names not just in South Africa but across the continent.
Later in 1998, they released their first full album, ''Halloween'', which became a huge hit with smash singles "Dlala Mapansula", "Mambotjie" & "We Love This Place". The album was certified Platinum by the Recording industry of South Africa (RISA), with sales over 200 000 copies and earned them 4 awards at South African Music Awards (SAMA) for Best Kwaito Album, Best Duo/Group, Best Single and Best Kwaito Single.
In 1999 they produced ''Guz 2001'', a compilation album by TKZee Family, consisting of the original TKZee members alongside other names on their record label TKZ Wrekords, including Gwyza, Loyiso, 2 shot and Dr Mageu sharing the musical stage with Kutlwano Masote and jazz genius
Moses Taiwa Molelekwa
Moses Taiwa Molelekwa (17 April 1973 – 13 February 2001) was a South African jazz pianist.
Early life
Moses Taiwa Molelekwa grew up in a family of jazz musicians. He was brought up in the town of Tembisa, situated in the province of Gauteng ...
.
In 2008 after an 8 year haitus the group reunited touring around the country and around the world in countries like denmark. The following year Tkzee released their third album titled Coming Home with the singles Sdudla and Dikakapa. They performed their hit single Shibobo at the opening ceremony of the
2010 FIFA World Cup
, image = 2010 FIFA World Cup.svg
, size = 200px
, caption = ''Ke Nako. (Tswana and Sotho for "It's time") Celebrate Africa's Humanity'It's time. Celebrate Africa's Humanity'' (English)''Dis tyd. Vier Afrika se mensd ...
at Soccer City (FNB stadium) in Johannesburg. On August 15th 2022 Tokollo Tshabalala passed away According to a press statement released by his family, the musician died from an epileptic seizure on Monday morning. He was 45. His family says he developed epileptic seizures from a severe brain injury he sustained during a car accident in 2001.
Discography
Singles
*"Take It Easy" (1996)
*"Phalafala" (1997)
*"Masimbela" (1997)
*"
Shibobo
"Shibobo" is a successful 1998 South African single by South African kwaito music group TKZee and features South African football player Benni McCarthy. It is also the title song from TKZee's second album ''Shibobo''.
The song released in the r ...
" (1998)
*"Dlala Mapansula" (1998)
*"Mambotjie/We Love This Place"(1999)
*"Fiasco" (1999)
*"Izinja Zam" (2000)
*"Ibola lethu" (2002)
*"S'dudla" (2009)
*"Dikakapa" (2010)
Albums/EP's
*1996: ''Take It Eazy''
*1997: ''Phalafala''
*1998: ''Shibobo''
*1998: ''Halloween''
*1999: ''Guz 2001 (TKZee family)''
*2001: ''Trinity''
*2004 ''Guz hits''
*2009 ''Coming Home''
Awards and nominations
References
External links
Article on TKZee*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tkzee
Kwaito musicians
South African musical groups