Mahlathini

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Mahlathini
Simon 'Mahlathini' Nkabinde, 1988
Background information
Birth name	Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde
Born	1937 or 1938 Newcastle, Natal, Union of South Africa
Died	27 July 1999(1999-07-27) (aged 62) Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Genres	Mbaqanga
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1964-1999

Simon "Mahlathini" Nkabinde (1937 or 1938 – 27 July 1999) was a South African mbaqanga singer. Known as the "Lion of Soweto", Nkabinde is the acknowledged exponent of the deep-voiced, basso profundo "groaning" style that came to symbolize mbaqanga music in the 1960s. Nkabinde was also a very active live performer in South Africa, recording and performing with the Mahotella Queens and the backing Makgona Tsohle Band from 1964 to 1971, and then again from 1983 to 1999. The Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens act was propelled into international stardom in the wake of Paul Simon's 1986 Graceland album.