At 21, Mthoko Mkhize is well on the way to the big time. This confident youngster from Lamontville starred in his own play at the John Dube High School in KwaMashu during his high school years, going on to appear at the 1994 FNB Vita Dance Umbrella and in Vusi Bantu Ngema’s Last Days Lust at the Playhouse. He’s also performed on former Radio Zulu (now Ukhozi FM) and in collaboration with renowned maskanda singer Mfiliseni Magubane, has made an album Iqoma Iziquleke which led to television appearances and an invitation to the Lisbon Expo ’98.

He appeared with Siwela Sonke in their season Cool Currents and was invited to choreograph for Nothembi Mkhwebane’s The Queen of Ndebele Music after which he went off to the Canberra Multi Cultural Festival in Australia. You can see Mthoko’s style of mbaqanga and mgqashiyo music when he performs with his new group Mthoko and the Vuthella Queens at the BAT Centre’s Celebration – Umgubho on July 16.