SHOE LACES - Mama ka Vusi (1981)

Mavuthela/Gallo, BL323   
Producer: West Nkosi       
Engineer: Owen Wolf                


Soulful mbaqanga with the signature West Nkosi touch, full of organ sounds and bass-heavy grooves. Purists will dismiss Shoe Laces as Nkosi’s attempts to push mbaqanga into the modern era after its popularity began to wane in the 1980s – at least before the boom in interest internationally for acts like Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens. In doing so Nkosi drew on the soul sounds he honed producing the likes of Mpharanyana and the Cannibals, employing musicians from his Mavuthela stable, including members of another influential mbaqanga act, Amaswazi Emvelo.