Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse - Jive Soweto

Sipho Peter Cecil Mabuse was born in Orlando West, a township in the heart of Soweto, on 2 November 1951, where his father ran a small corner shop selling household supplies. From a young age he had a love of music, especially jazz and American soul, and he adores Nina Simone. While at school at Orlando West High he joined a youth band as drummer. This changed when Selby Ntuli and Alec Khaoli from another school came to Orlando West for their final exams. Both were guitarists who were already writing original music, with lyrics in all African languages spoken on the streets, and in a genre which is known as "township soul". Sipho then joined them, as did Monty Ndimande. Their music was about popular issues of the day, from teenage love to community hopes and fears.

Calling themselves The Beaters (echoing The Beatles) they started playing professionally (albeit rather disastrously at first) in venues such as community halls, but with committed rehearsals and a sponsorship from a successful local boxer they soon developed a dedicated following. Being a high-school band, students from all high schools identified with them and as the demand for their performances grew, they decided to quit school and to become professional musicians. Soon they were touring neighbouring states and opening for visiting overseas artists, and after a tour to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1975 released their first album, “Harari”, and subsequently decided to also change their name to Harari. For the next decade or so Harari released an album every year and became one of the most iconic and popular bands in South Africa, with their LPs being sought-after collectables even to this day.

After the sudden death of Selby Ntuli in 1978, Sipho Mabuse became leader of the band and by 1980 they had received many awards, topped several charts, and had become the first black band to headline at Johannesburg’s Colosseum Theatre. With the members changing frequently and tensions within the band growing, Harari broke up in 1982. Sipho then became a very successful solo artist, also moving from drums to vocals and playing the saxophone, flute, and timbale. From 1986 onwards he frequently released albums and 7” singles, also writing his own songs and creating chart-toppers such as “Burn Out” and “Jive Soweto”.

Later in life he went back to school, passed his exams, and then signed up for an undergraduate degree in anthropology. Some of the highlights of his career to date include:

1. A SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005;
2. A performance as 46664 Ambassador in London’s Hyde Park in 2008;
3. A performance as 46664 Ambassador in New York’s Radio City Music Hall in 2009;
4. A Silver Order of Ikhamanga, for his contribution to the field of music in 2018;
5. A Lifetime Achievement Award winner at the 13th Annual South African Traditional Music Achievements Awards (SATMA) in 2018;
6. A Lifetime Achievement Award from GQ Magazine in 2021, with an article on him and with him featured on the cover.

Sipho Mabuse has lived in Soweto all his life and still performs regularly.

This song is from the EP "Burn Out", released in 1984.