Mahotella Queens - We Boy

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“We Boy” was the 4th track on their debut LP “Meet The Mahotella Queens” (Motella LMO-101) in 1966, with a sole writing credit for singer Nuno Maseko. Aside from the ever-wonderful vocals, I particularly love that proto-reggae bassline. Johannesburg calling Kingston, come in Kingston!

The group were named after a road sign somewhere between Pietersburg and Johannesburg which read: “amahhotela (hotel), 3 miles”, a name which tickled producer Rupert Bopape so much he immortalized it via his Mahotella Queens. By 1966, they were way more famous than an old road sign, and had an album of works on offer!

The front cover of the LP was shot in 1965, and featured (L to R): Ethel Mngomezulu, Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde, Nunu Maseko and Hilda Tloubatla.

This was only the second LP on the Motella label, and was the first to be billed to a single group. The liner notes read:

“Not long ago – about two years – the country was swept by a craze for a new kind of jive. First presented and popularised by the Mahotella Queens, it shows no signs of decreasing – in fact it gets bigger with the release of each new “Queens” record. Demonstrating the dance all over the country, The Mahotella Queens (not to forget their “King” Mahlatini Nkabinde) have become the idols of the young “with it” crowd. Growing from original “Jive Motella” many other fads and variations have recently hit the scene – all of them introduced and demonstrated by The Queens and their King: Jive Mgqashiya (which is available on MO 33 and, incidentally is named after the word meaning the Bantu traditional way of dancing), Jive Jibav (on MO 50) and most recently a wild, crazy jive called ‘S’modern’. The charm, vivacity and ultra-modern go-ahead spirit of these vital young artists fully deserves to have captivated the country. Ever since they started, back in Johannesburg in 1963, their fame has been growing by leaps and bounds. Today they have no equal in their field. But although they are the ones who glory in all the limelight, they owe an enormous debt to the “man behind the scenes”. He is the “brain” who guided, formed and trained the group – Rupert “Bops” Bopape.”

Album is reviewed in my Album Chart of 1966: