Our dream is to win Grammy –Mafikizolo

Punch had an Interview South African artistes,Theo Kgosinkwe and
NhlanhlaNciza of Mafikizolo music group tell Saturday Beats about
their deal with Davido

How was the group Mafikizolo formed?

Theo: We met a long time ago. Back then, we stayed in the same
neighbourhood and we participated in the same music competitions. One
day, we decided to get together and form a band and make a demo tape.
That was how we started and it has been about 13 years. It quite a
long time.

Mafikizolo started out with three members and now, there are only two
of you. What happened?

Theo: The two of us originally formed the group until we met Oskido, a
popular music producer who later introduced us to our third member,
Tebogo. We lost Tebogo in 2004.

How did the song Tchelete where you featured Davido come about?

Nhlanhla: The collaboration was initiated by MTN and we were fortunate
enough to be booked to come and perform in a show organised in Nigeria
by MTN. One of the MTN officials suggested he would like us to perform
with one of their brand ambassadors, Davido. We bought the idea
because when we released our current album, one of our aims was to
break into the other African countries and do collaborations with
other African artistes. We told him that we would be happy to do the
song with Davido and we felt it was a blessing.

Where was your craziest live performance ever?

Theo: We have had so many live performances; so it is hard to single
out one that was crazier than the other. But I think there was one a
long time ago in South Africa. Then Tebogo Madingoane was still alive.
We had some of our lady fans throwing their underwear on stage. And
that was the craziest because we didn't believe what we saw on stage.

Where did the name Mafikizolo come from and what does it mean?
Nhlanhla: It's quite an easy story actually. When we sent out our demo
tapes to Kalawa Records, there was a song that we did and it was
called Mafikizolo. After we got a record deal, we thought about names
back and forth and finally, we just decided to use the name
Mafikizolo. Mafikizolo means new kids on the block or newcomers and we
were one of the youngest groups to join the record label, so we
thought it was a great idea.

What language is Mafikizolo?
Theo: Mafikizolo is Zulu.

Where do you dream of performing?
Theo: Times Square, New York. You know, we have to dream big. We never
in a life time thought we would be this big all over the continent and
that our music would be so versatile it would get to the western part
of the world. We just think this is the beginning of greater things to
come. Back in South Africa, we just made history; we never thought we
would win eight awards in one night. Scooping every award that there
was, it shows anything is possible. We could even win a Grammy or
perform at Times Square if we believe in God that we can do it.

When you recorded Khona, did you know it was going to be an
international sensation?
Nhlanhla: Sincerely, it took us by surprise. When we recorded the
album, we knew we were trying to make songs that would appeal all over
Africa because we were done with music that appeal solely to South
Africans. We wanted to break outside the South African borders, so
when we heard the beat of the song, we felt this could be it because
the beat is powerful and there are African drums in the song. We think
that's what made people to fall in love with it so much. To our
amazement, the song is also doing very well outside the African
continent. We simply think it's because the song is one of those
original African sounds, that's why it appeals so much to those
outside the continent. We wanted to try something different but we
never knew it was going to be this big.

What kind of music do you listen to?
Theo: We listen to more of gospel music. We also listen to hip-hop,
dancehall, kwaito and Nigerian music.

What is your favourite Nigerian music?
Theo: We would say artiste because we haven't quite come to understand
the genres of Nigerian music. We would say D'banj, Davido, Ice Prince,
D'Prince, Tiwa Savage, Tuface and Wizkid are among our favourites.

What is your opinion on vulgar and unholy songs?

Nhlanhla: There are a lot of songs in a particular genre of music that
are not right but other people like them anyway. The song might sound
nice in terms of the beat and melody but the words might not be good
words. There are certain songs by Lady Gaga that are quite nice but I
wouldn't want to listen to them because they do not go with my
Christian beliefs.

If a South African song would win a Grammy, what song would it be?

Theo: It has to beKhonaby Mafikizolo featuring Uhuru.