The surviving member of the Mahotella Queens, Hilda Tloubatla says she still has a lot of music in her to share with the world. The 80-year-old mbaqanga singer still travels and performs on international stages like she did when she joined the group in 1964.Tloubatla explains that she was born a musician, lived her life as a musician and will only hang my mic on her deathbed. "Why must I stop performing now when I am still healthy, fit and able?' she laughs. The aged musician is a livewire and creative spirit behind the success of the group in recent years since many of founding members died over the years.

PROTECTING THE GROUP'S IDENTITY

She works around the clock to ensure that the group doesn't lose its identity and remains authentic even though she is the only surviving member.                      "Mahotella Queens must forever be known as Mahotella Queens that was formed back in the day, from the outfits, sound and culture even with new members. I personally train the new members about the culture of the group, the dance moves and type of songs to compose. We have worked hard for decades to build the group to be what it is today, there is no reason for us to change the winning recipe that is loved and appreciated across the globe over decades,' she explains.

BLINDED BY FAME

Of late, the aged singer has been working with young upcoming musicians in Ekurhuleni imparting her artistic knowledge. She adds that it pains her that many young artists get into the music industry blinded by fame because they think it is all glitz and glamour. "They end-up binding themselves in contracts that they cannot get out of and only realise when it is too late that they have sold all their artistic rights to the devil. I always encourage young artists to first go to school, arm themselves with all the education they can get to be able to read and understand contracts,' she adds. She says that It is sad seeing and reading about talented artists who are losing everything that they have worked for because they were careless with their contracts. "Get someone with a legal background to go through the contract, understand what you are signing before you agree.

BEDROOM STUDIOS

Tloubatla adds she is also concerned about some of the new music coming out of bedroom studios. "In the past when we joined the music industry, no song would be played without proper due diligence, which included the language used and message it carried. "Today we listen to music about taking drugs, scantily dressed women and fast cars. What kind of message are we sending out to young people who look up to us as role models?" she asks adding that, "I always wonder what we did as the older generation of musicians for us to end up here and what we can do to retrace our steps,' she said. The group is currently working on their new album which will be released soon.

A HiSTORICAL CAREER

Tloubatla started singing in school and at the age of 22 she was invited to audition for the role of a lead singer in the group and got the part.She joined the internationally acclaimed group in 1964 when it was formed by music producer Rupert Bopape. It was made up of Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde, Nobesuthu Mbadu, Mildred Mangxola, Juliet Mazamisa. and Ethel Mngomezulu. Tloubatla added that over the years the group allowed her to touch the hearts from acros the world even during political turmoil.