Global A Go-Go

The indestructible beat of Mahotella Queens

Sun, Aug 31, 2025

Mahotella Queens, South Africa’s greatest mbaqanga singing group, are now in their 60th year. Led by Hilda Tloubatla, their last remaining original member, they’ve just released their first album, Buya Buya: Come Back, in almost 20 years, and it’s a beaut. You’ll hear two songs from it this week on Global A Go-Go, plus a recording of the Queens from their first UK-USA tour in 1988-89, a tour that brought them to Richmond.

Also this week (Sunday August 31, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Acoustic music from southern Africa by the Good Ones, Alick Nkhata and Cowboy Sweethearts; a reissue of one of my favorite highlife recordings, the Blue Album of K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas; a new version of the “Westbound Train” riddim by Skip Marley; Finland’s Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha go Anatolian rock; and the sizzling desert blues of Group Inerane, recorded live.

Podcast: radio4all.net/program/120867
All the podcasts: radio4all.net/series/Global%20A%20Go-Go

Show archive

Playlist