They sing. They dance. They are from South Africa. But how did they get into our hearts so fast and became so famous? Here is the Mafikizolo story.

Since 1997 when they dropped their first ever music work, “Mafikizolo” this veteran music group from down Cape Coast has been determined to stay in the game no matter what. Their second album, “Music Revolution” was released in 1999 but didn’t give the brand the much attention they were vying for. The group, made up of three members: Theo Kgosinkwe, Nhlanhla Neiza and Tebogo Madingoane together kept the flames burning and in 2000, the group threw in their best-selling album titled, “Gate Crashers”. That album propelled the three singers into glory.

They were quickly identified by their signature rhythm and special dance. The kwaito music became famous down south and Mafikizolo were more than ready to conquer every stage, media station and the online market. They were commercial and succeeded to become South Africa’s #1. Taking over the rest of Africa was the next big target!

But in 2001, the group suffered a ghastly motor accident that almost claimed their lives. Thank God they survived and to define their gratefulness, “Sibongile”, a thank you God album was released. The group immediately hit the international platform and was on every nomination list.

In that finery, another tragedy hit the group. This time, a member was caught in a cross fire. On February 14^th 2004, after a heated argument with a driver in traffic, Tebogo Madingoane was shot dead. The group was left in mourning for a while and returned with three albums: “Khwela”, “Vantoeka Af” and finished up with “Six Mabone” in 2008.   

However, the pressure from their loss couldn’t keep the group moving. They broke up! A year later, Theo released a solo album, “I Am” while Nhlanhla went ahead to drop two albums: “Lingcinga Zam” meaning My Thoughts and “Inguquko” meaning Change. But she lost her 9year daughter to a car accident in December 2009.

Just maybe being apart wasn’t their strength because in 2010, the two remaining members reunited and took back the group name “Mafikizolo”. In 2013, the group dropped all their differences and reconnected their energy to create one of their biggest and most work of all time. They had to merge with the award winning singer Uhuru to bless Africa with “Khona”.

The powerful zulu rendition raked in as #1 on every music chat in Africa and took the group to an international level. Khona meaning “There” was born out of creativity and its dance spanned across the continent like wild fire. Every household is trying to measure up with the speed of the group’s flight to superiority.

First, we wondered who they were. But now, we all know. And we ask, what’s there not to love about this new rave of African house music?