moskito: idolar
Francisco Espregueira
From the vibrant township of Tembisa, South Africa, nestled between Johannesburg and Pretoria, emerges the story of Moskito, a kwaito powerhouse whose golden debut album, Idolar, is now being reissued by Awesome Tapes From Africa. Formed in 2001 by Mahlubi "Shadow" Radebe and the late Zwelakhe "Malemon" Mtshali, the group initially honed their craft as dynamic pantsula dancers—a style interwoven with kwaito culture, characterized by its rapid foot movements and low-dancing. Their infectious energy on street corners soon led them to channel their talents into music, joined by friends Patrick Lwane and Menzi Dlodlo, and thus, Moskito was born. Inspired by South African kwaito icons like Trompies and Mdu, as well as global heavyweights such as Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre, Moskito crafted a unique sound, a perfect blend of local flavor and international influence.
With limited resources, Moskito showcased immense creativity, recording demos using ingenious methods like two cassette decks to layer their raps and singing over instrumental tracks. This raw determination paid off when Tammy Music Publishers were captivated by their distinctive style. As Radebe recalls, "Kwaito was the thing 'in' at the time. If you did music you did kwaito. We wanted to fit in and actually it was easy." Their debut album, Idolar, released that same year under Tammy Music, was an undeniable success, achieving gold status with over 25,000 units sold and garnering a devoted fanbase across South Africa and neighboring countries. The group collaborated with industry legends like Chilly Mthiya Tshabalala and drew inspiration from Thami Mdluli (Professor Rhythm), who provided musical arrangements and executive production, while Shadow and Malemon proudly composed most of their songs, often relying on engineers to capture their ideas.
Following Idolar's success, Moskito released their second album, Izinja, in 2004, which brought them their biggest hit, the title track. In 2006, the group welcomed Tshepo "Nyamazane" Naapo, a gifted keyboard player and sound engineer, further solidifying their place in the kwaito scene with their self-titled album, Moskitos, in 2007. Though individual members eventually pursued solo careers, and sadly, Zwelakhe "Malemon" Mtshali passed away in 2024, the surviving members of Moskito are now actively working on a brand-new EP, exploring new sounds and continuing to perform across South Africa. With decades of experience and the same burning passion that ignited their journey from township streets to national stages, Moskito's classic kwaito songs are now poised for a long-overdue international debut, hoping to reach even more listeners as their timeless music transcends borders. Standing the test of time, achieving the status of timeless via the invaluable work of the Awesome Tapes from Africa imprint, Idolar is available on vinyl, CD, cassette and digital.
Moskito are:
Mahlubi Radebe
Zwelakhe Mtshali
Patrick Lwane
Menzi Dlodlo
Tshepo Naapo