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TKZee

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TKZee
GenresKwaito
Years active1996 (1996)–present
Labels
  • Hola
  • Colossal
MembersZwai Bala: b. (1975-02-15)15 February 1975

Tokollo Tshabalala: (1976-10-14)14 October 1976–15 August 2022(2022-08-15) (aged 45)

Kabelo Mabalane: b. (1976-12-15)15 December 1976

TKZee is a South African kwaito music group formed in 1990s by three school friends, Tokollo Tshabalala, Kabelo Mabalane, and Zwai Bala.[1] The group shot to prominence in late 1997 and early 1998 with their chart-topping singles "Palafala" and "Shibobo".[2]

1996 their debut EP was released titled Take It Easy, but did not sell well.[3] December 1997 the group released their second EP "Phalafala", sampling Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi". The song became a hit, with the CD single selling over 100,000 units. The group's next big release was in the run-up to the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In collaboration with Bafana Bafana and then-Ajax striker Benni McCarthy, the group produced the third EP Shibobo in June 1998. The song, which contained samples of Europe's The Final Countdown and featured McCarthy rapping on some of the lyrics, was an instant success. Sales topped the 100 000 mark in just over a month, a feat which made Shibobo the fastest and biggest selling CD single by a South African recording artist in history. They quickly became household names not just in South Africa but across the continent.

Later in 1998, they released their first full album, Halloween, which became a huge hit with smash singles "Dlala Mapansula", "Mambotjie" & "We Love This Place".[4] The album was certified Platinum by the Recording industry of South Africa (RISA), with sales over 200 000 copies and earned them 4 awards at South African Music Awards (SAMA) for Best Kwaito Album, Best Duo/Group, Best Single and Best Kwaito Single.[5][6][7] In 1999 they produced Guz 2001, a compilation album by TKZee Family, consisting of the original TKZee members alongside other names on their record label TKZ Wrekords, including Gwyza, Loyiso, 2 shot and Dr Mageu sharing the musical stage with Kutlwano Masote and jazz genius Moses Taiwa Molelekwa.

In 2008, after an eight-year hiatus, the group reunited, touring around the country and around the world in countries like Denmark. The following year Tkzee released their third album titled Coming Home with the singles "Sdudla" and "Dikakapa". They performed their hit single "Shibobo" at the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup at Soccer City (FNB stadium) in Johannesburg. On 15 August 2022 Tokollo Tshabalala died. According to a press statement released by his family, the musician died from an epileptic seizure on Monday morning. He was 45. His family says he developed epileptic seizures from a severe brain injury he sustained during a car accident in 2001.

Discography

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Singles

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  • "Take It Easy" (1996)
  • "Phalafala" (1997)
  • "Masimbela" (1997)
  • "Shibobo" (1998)
  • "Dlala Mapansula" (1998)
  • "Mambotjie/We Love This Place"(1999)
  • "Fiasco" (1999)
  • "Izinja Zam" (2000)
  • "Ibola lethu" (2002)
  • "S'dudla" (2009)
  • "Dikakapa" (2010)

Albums/EP's

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  • 1996: Take It Eazy
  • 1997: Phalafala
  • 1998: Shibobo
  • 1998: Halloween
  • 1999: Guz 2001 (TKZee family)
  • 2001: Trinity
  • 2004 Guz hits
  • 2009 Coming Home

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Results Ref.
1999 5th SAMA Best Kwaito Album Won [8][9]
Best Duo/Group Won
Best Single Won
Best Kwaito Single Won
2019 25th SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award Won [10][11]

References

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  1. ^ "[WATCH] TKZee reminisce about the past days and what inspired their success". 702.
  2. ^ "7 things you didn't know about: TKZee". SowetanLIVE.
  3. ^ Staff Reporter (19 December 1997). "Dancing to their own tune".
  4. ^ "TKZee celebrate 20th anniversary of 'Halloween' album". The Citizen. 26 October 2018.
  5. ^ "TKZee get to roll back the years". www.iol.co.za.
  6. ^ "Interview TKZee | Cape Town Interviews". www.capetownmagazine.com.
  7. ^ "HHP, TKZee and Mango Groove to be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards at Samas 2019". Channel.
  8. ^ "SAMAs 25 to honour SA music giants HHP, TKZee and Mango Groove". HeraldLIVE.
  9. ^ "TKZee look back at the Ground-Breaking Multi-Platinum album Halloween!". 13 November 2018.
  10. ^ "TKZee's journey to being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award". 4 June 2019.
  11. ^ "TKZee's Zwai Bala says SAMA was an 'unexpected honour'". www.iol.co.za.
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