Sello "Chicco" Twala (born June 5, 1963) is a South African singer and record producer. He has produced many hit singles for well-known artists in the country, including Nkosana Kodi and

Brenda Fassie Brenda Nokuzola Fassie (3 November 1964 – 9 May 2004) was a South African singer, songwriter, dancer and activist. Affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans, she is also known as the "Queen of African Pop" or the "Madonna of The Townships." Fas ...

. In the 1970s, he played in

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

bands including Umoja and Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse's Harari, as well as forming his own band, Image.

Early life

Twala was born in

Soweto Soweto () is a Township (South Africa), township of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for ''South Western T ...

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...

, where he attended Bopasanatla High School.

Career

Twala rose to prominence in the 1980s, writing a string of hit singles such as ''We Miss You Manelo'' (1987), which was certified triple-platinum by

RISA Risa may refer to: * Risa (given name), a feminine given name * Risa (Star Trek), a fictional planet * Radioiodinated serum albumin * Recording Industry of South Africa * Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer analysis See also * * * Rise (disambiguation) ...

, as well as

's ''Too Late for Mama'' (1989), which was certified platinum. The title of the former is a reference to

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ( , ; born Rolihlahla Mandela; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa f ...

, who was imprisoned on

Robben Island Robben Island () is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town, South Africa. It takes its name from the Dutch language, Dutch word for seals (''robben''), hence the Dutch/Afrika ...

at the time. In 1992, Twala recorded a soul ballad entitled ''Peace Song'', shortly before the nation's first democratic elections in 1994. He also collaborated with poet Mzwakhe Mbuli on ''Papa Stop The War'' (1990). Twala also wrote songs for and produced the album ''Memeza'' (1997) as part of a comeback by Brenda Fassie. Some of Twala's songs feature in '' Lion King II''. Through his music studio in

, he works to help develop young musical artists' careers. He has won various awards, such as a Lifetime Achievement South African Music Award and a Metro FM Music Award. Twala's song ''Modjadji'' was featured on the official soundtrack of the film

Grimsby Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town in Lincolnshire, England with a population of 86,138 (as of 2021). It is located near the mouth on the south bank of the Humber that flows to the North Sea. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes dir ...

Personal life

Sello Twala is the son of Elias Twala and Betty Khombo Masitha. He was married to Thembi and they had 3 children, Longwe and Nowie. He got another son named Sello Twala.He has another daughter Lamiez

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Twala, Sello Chicco 1963 births Living people South African musicians South African record producers