He's probably one producer who has given us so many hits since the birth of our new democracy.
Back in the 90's and early 2000's if you heard an artist hollering "Asina ke Spikiri!" before or after a track you knew it was going to be a hit because of Mandla Spikiri's signature touch on the song.
From his days with Trompies, working alongside the likes of Oskido, Kabelo Mabalane, Bongo Maffin and many other artists Mandla Spikiri has not only achieved longevity within the game but has also garnered a lot of respect from his musical peers as well as the younger generations of musicians who have come to learn a great amount of knowledge from him.
Here are a few things we've come to learned about Mandla Spikiri throughout the years.
- Spikiri alongside Mdu Masilela first started out as dancers back in the 80's before becoming musicians and music producers.
- He started in the entertainment industry when he was 12 years old.
- By the time he was 14 he was then discovered by legendary artist and music producer, Sello Chicco Twala.
- In an interview with Tbo Touch, he once mentioned that a lot of artists call him when they want a hit track.
- As a teenager, Spikiri would be smuggled into shebeen clubs to make a bit of money as a dancer.
- He considers himself as THE artist who put Ndofaya (Meadowlands) on the map.
- He's produced music for all kinds of genres from bubble gum pop back in the 80's to kwaito, house, funk and hip hop as well.
- He's worked with almost 80% of the artists in the music industry.
- His group Trompies and B.O.P which consisted of Oskido and Bruce Sebitlo actually competed to have the 90's kwaito hit single - Sigiya Ngegoma which was eventually taken by Trompies.
- In 2015 he launched an album on Christmas Eve in Meadowlands and dubbed the launch, Chrismas in Ndofaya. Some of the profits made from the event were used to buy school uniforms for 50 pupils, and fix some of the classrooms vandalized in the area of Ndofaya.
Respect to the Kind Don Father of Kwaito music Spikirikiwikiwiki!
Main Image Credit: Twitter