Obituary: Nobesuthu Mbadu (1945-2021)

As a young girl, Nobesuthu Mbadu sang and performed Zulu dances in Durban’s Umkhumbane Township and was still in her teens when, in 1964, record producer Rupert Bopape invited her to join a new vocal group called the Mahotella Queens.

Teaming up with Hilda Tloubatla and Mildred Mangxola, the trio provided the joyous close harmonies behind the deep, ‘groaning’ voice of Simon 'Mahlathini' Nkabinde and the lilting guitars of the Makgona Tsohle Band.

The style was called mbaqanga and Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens swiftly became South Africa’s most successful group of the era with hits such as 'Orlando Train', 'Uyavutha Umlilo' (Music Inferno), 'Sengikala Ngiyabaleka' (Crying and Running Away) and 'Gazette' (Kazet).

More than merely Mahlathini’s backing singers, Nobesuthu and the Queens were integral to the group sound with their unique harmonies and central to the act’s appeal on stage with their thrillingly inventive dance steps.

At the height of their fame, the trio disbanded to start families, but they reunited in 1986 to record their first international album, Thokozile, and followed with Paris – Soweto, a set of powerful re-recordings of Mahlathini & the Queens' biggest hits of the 1960s and 70s. Their traditional swinging, township style also found a new audience as they toured the world, performing at 1988’s celebrated 70th-birthday tribute to Nelson Mandela at London's Wembley Arena, and at Glastonbury and various WOMADs.

Mahlathini died in 1999 and, after a period of mourning, the Queens struck out on their own. Nobesuthu continued singing with the group until ill health forced her retirement in 2017. One of her final recordings with the Queens was on an album by the South African rapper Cassper Nyovest.

“She was very quiet, very meek and humble,” her family said on her death. “But on that stage, she came alive.”

Lala ngoxolo (rest in peace), Nobesuthu.​