Peta Teanet's reign as the King of Tsonga Disco came after that of Paul Ndlovu, who we featured a couple of weeks ago, and before that of Penny Penny (a treat yet to come). Between 1988 and 1996 he bestrode the world of Tsonga Disco like a mighty colossus.
For further information I am indebted once again to Max Thamagana Mojapelo’s book “Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music”. I don't know whether Max's image of himself as the Zelig of the music scene in the Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces is entirely accurate, but his book is certainly an invaluable source of information about South African music over the last thirty years or so.
Peta Teanet's story is classic soul singer territory. Born in a small village near the one-horse town of Tzaneen, his performing career started in church. The he formed a band called Relela who got a bit of airplay on Radio Tsonga, but were too far from the action to get much further locally. So he went off to Johannesburg where the streets are paved with gold in search of fame and fortune. After knocking on a lot of doors he eventually got a record deal. His first album, 1988's "Maxaka", represented what Max calls "the birth of an unchallengable hit machine". And so it was until he was tragically shot dead in 1996 at the age of only 30, leaving behind him eight wives (one of them apparently rejoicing in the name of Do It) and thirteen children. OK, that last bit is maybe a little less typical.
Today's selections come from a greatest hits compilation I picked up in Cape Town. According to Max, "Matswele" was "inspired by a young lady who was warning an unruly guy not to touch her breasts without permission", a cause we can all rally round I am sure. I have no idea what the other one is about.
"Matswele" - Peta Teanet
"Nwayingwane" - Peta Teanet
And to think that around the time Peta was getting started in 1988, back in the UK we were being subjected to this:
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I love this guys music ,he was jus raw ,purely talented with you could add some more.
ReplyDeleteConsider it done
ReplyDeleteand can some1 elaborate on the conversation between Nwayingwane, Peter and the other lady :-)
ReplyDeletepeta teanet was great indeed we lost
ReplyDeletehi guys. thanks so much for the above free downloads links of "Matswele" - Peta Teanet and "Nwayingwane" - Peta Teanet. Big up for the good work man. the guy was really too good. Do you have any King of Shangaan Disco tracks?
ReplyDeletepeta teanet was one of the greatest musicians of his time and a legend of tsonga music.he inspired a generation. big up to shangani music and to one of its fathers aka teanet.hikhesile
ReplyDeleteteanet was a good singer!!!
ReplyDeleteThis guy's music just doesnt get out of style for me, wanna know, cauz there's nothing like it, and also considering that its carries lots and lots of memories of my childhood, he was a music genius. Listen to: we love you tizaman, thats a great song, and the whole album rocked.
ReplyDeleteThey will come and go ... Teanet was the Micheal Jackson of Tsonga Music..Jakalaka Teka
ReplyDeleteI'm looking for the following artists of old times: Suster H, Vuyelwa vo1 to where it ended, David Simelane, Ernest Shelembe Mpukane, Taso gets dangerous, Emma Teanet, Girlie Mafura,Amon Nvula Zamalek part 1 to idk...If anybody knows where i can buy em, pliz holla bakk thnx in advance
ReplyDeletepeter teanet was one of the tsonga music who didn`T DISAPOINT HIS SUPPOTERS IN HIS LIFE TIME.& HE WAS A FREEDOM FIGHTER I`M SUPRISED THERE NOTHING NAMED AFTER HIM IN TZANEEN. JOPPIE BOY FOR MORE INFO CALL 0783032323
ReplyDeleteI like his music it takes me back to my youthful days in Zimbabwe when pansula was a hit in townships.
ReplyDeleteAm a Zambian living on the Copperbelt. I like the music. I last listened to The Black Force in 1993....and all of a sudden I stumble on this blog....It's really a walk through memory lane. I luv this
ReplyDeletethts indeed i do love songs bt all songs of peta teanet hv the message we need,,by magendra ramoshaba frm tzaneen
ReplyDeleteRest in peace king of shangaan disco u r missed. Kambe ni dlayelwa ku lungha.Ur music remain the hits for me Evans.
ReplyDeleteMare mmino o ke a o rata fela thata mme sum people ba nkgala ka one.I was not born by that time but kafa ke o ratang ka tent it makes me crazy...by Kgalalelo mosope from Sedibeng,Botswana
ReplyDeleteWhere can i get vuyelwa vol 6 songs like adela original and the rest. Contact me ryokomoi@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteSTILL i HAVE NOT FOUND REPLACEMENT FOR TEANET.HE WAS PAR-EXCELLENT. A LEGEND IN HIS OWN CLASS.AT 30 YEARS OF AGE MANAGED TO CONQUER THE AIR WAVES.MAY HIS SOUL REST IN ETERNITY. WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED
ReplyDeleteYou will always be remembered Mr Teanet, you will always be a Shangaan Disco King. From Prison Warder Disco artists, Bushbuckridge
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say they stole what was meant to be for the world......Peta rest in peace my lovely brother.
ReplyDeleteUuum l feel shame this is my favorite musician . Even now l am still listening his old music ? I am disturbed just because l love only the songs which he commpossed . The king of Shangani Music . Teanet was kill by a politician who is now living . Penny penny
ReplyDeleteKing of kings of Shangaan disco for life time and forever and ever...Peter Teanet
ReplyDelete