Zwai Bala produced most of TKZee's hits. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.
Oskido & Bruce Sebitlo
Two of the co-founders of Kalawa Jazmee Records, a label instrumental in the success of kwaito, Oskido and Bruce Sebitlo partnered on some of the most genre-defining kwaito releases. They produced hits for their duet Brothers of Peace (B.O.P), Alaska, Trompies, Thebe, Mafikizolo and a lot of others. The two, alongside another genius, jazz producer Don Laka, were responsible for the merging afro pop and kwaito. They produced songs such as Mafikizolo's "Kwela Kwela" and "Sebenza" (ft. Dorothy Masuja), which combined Sophia Town-era kwela music with kwaito, almost creating a new subgenre. This put Mafikizolo in a unique space, which they still occupy progressively to this day.
Kalawa Jazzme ran kwaito for years, and it was mostly Oskido and Sebitlo alongside producers such as Don Laka and Spikiri, who created the label's trademark sound.
B.O.P's sound later morphed into more house than kwaito, but still kept those kwaito sensibilities on their Zabalaza trilogy of albums.
Oskido is also a notable in South African house music, and, through songs by Durban's T'zozo and Professor, ushered a new era of Durban kwaito, which kwaito purists consider house, but has, like or not, prolonged kwaito's lifespan through Big Nuz, DJ Tira, L'Vovo and others.
Some notable productions
Mafikizolo "Ndihamba Nawe" (co-produced by Mahoota)
Mafikizolo ft. Hugh Masekela "Kwela Kwela"
Alaska "Accuse"
T'zozo & Professor "Woz' eDurban" (co-produced by Mahoota)
Zonke "Ekhaya" (Produced by Bruce Sebitlo)
Winnie Khumalo "Live My Life"
Thebe "Boola Boot" (produced by Bruce Sebitlo & Guffy)
Trompies "Sigiya Ngengoma" (co-produced by Spikiri)
Alaska "Osherr"
Boom Shaka "Makwerekwere" (co-produced by Spikiri and Mahoota)
BOP "Manyonyoba" (co-produced by Spikiri, Mahoota and Don Laka)
As “Sade” turns 10, we take a look at how Adekunle Gold provided an alternative template to being a Nigerian superstar by making music with soul and commercial merits.
