Marvel of Soul Brothers explored

Tale of group’s joys and pain

TITLE: The Life and Times of Soul Brothers AUTHOR: Sydney Fetsie Maluleke PUBLISHER: Maluks Books REVIEWER: Patience Bambalele

Sydney Maluleke deserves a round of applause for documenting one of the important elements of South African music history, the story of the Soul Brothers, one of the most successful and best bands to be produced by this country.

The group has taken mbaqanga music to world stages.

After 43 years, the band is still going strong, and that is why this book is crucial, especially for young people.

The book gives one insight into how the group was formed, its trials and tribulations, and the highlights of the group’s successful career.

It features newspaper articles, pictures of accolades won by the group, and platinum and gold discs that prove their worth.

One of the most touching and yet encouraging points in the book is the focus on how Soul Brothers has managed to forge ahead despite losing many members.

The story is told through the eyes of the only surviving member, Moses Ngwenya, and session artists who worked with the group.

The author has managed to tell the story in a simple way, making it an easy read, even for those who do not understand the genre.

The disappointing part about the book is the Zulu words that are either spelt incorrectly or wrongly translated.

The book also offers a little too much unnecessary information.