Imithente

In a genre long dominated by male voices, Imithente arrived in 1993 and quietly changed everything on the maskanda scene. Formed in Johannesburg by the late guitarist Simosakhe Mthalane, who had grown up immersed in Zulu traditional culture and saw a clear gap in a maskandi scene built almost entirely around men, the group brought together three female vocalists from KwaZulu-Natal: Buselaphi Gxowa, Dumisile Manana and Nokwazi Ntuli. Their name was drawn from a type of grass native to the rural landscapes of KwaZulu-Natal, rooted and resilient, which would prove an apt metaphor for the group itself.

Their sound was distinctive from the outset. Built around acoustic guitar, concertina, percussion and tightly woven three-part harmonies, Imithente wove upbeat township jive with traditional spiritual themes, singing in isiZulu with an energy and ululating enthusiasm that reflected their Zulu heritage while remaining entirely accessible to urban audiences.

The debut album Umbulali was released in 1995, and a string of gold-selling albums followed across the next two decades, including Isidikiselo in 2001, Awusay Ebhodweni in 2002, Igaz Elibabayo in 2005 and the breakthrough Ake Niyek Ukukhuluma in 2006. Simqonda Ngqo, released in 2008, became their most celebrated work, earning them the South African Music Award for Best Maskandi Album in 2009, making them the first female group ever to win in that category. They also received multiple South African Traditional Music Awards over the course of their career.

Their reach extended well beyond South African borders. The group performed internationally in France and India in 2002, Vienna in 2008, the Pan African Cultural Festival in Algiers in 2009 and at WOMEX, the world music industry's most prestigious platform. As recently as 2025 they received a SAMA nomination for Best Maskandi Album, proof that nearly three decades on, Imithente remain not just relevant but essential.