Soweto String Quartet

Established in 1978, Soweto String Quartet (SSQ) is well known for their elegant, African soul sound that has made them popular locally and internationally. SSQ’s music is beloved by many and stirs feelings of delight and sentimentality in fans around the world.

The group is comprised of Sandile Khemese, first violinist and musical director; Thami Khemese, second violinist; Makhosini Mnguni, viola and Themba Mashobane, Cello.

Their debut album, ‘Zebra Crossing’, was released in 1994. During this time, South Africa was transitioning from apartheid into democracy. While their latest offering was released in 2020 in collaboration with Thammy Mdluli. All in all, the music of SSQ brings a modern twist on Classical, Jazz, Gospel and African music, which has made them popular with fans from diverse backgrounds.
The Soweto String Quartet sometimes affectionately known as SSQ is a world renowned South African Brand. The last few years have seen SSQ performed around the world as Ambassadors for the new South Africa. SSQ is not your ordinary classic music band. The music is not conventional string quartet sound but uniquely African. It is unique blend of traditional rhythms, township jazz, mbaqanga, pop songs, jazz-fusion and strong classical influences. Their music is a good to soul fusion of the dance rhythms of kwela, the syncopated guitars of Mbaqanga, the saxophone and trumpets of swaying African jazz and the voices of people singing joyous easy harmony. SSQ is made up of three brothers Reuben, Sandile, and Thami and a bosom friend Makhosini Mnguni.

Its relevance to the social issues brought hope during a tense transition from apartheid to liberation, therefore set itself apart, separated and far ahead of its peers. Throughout the preceding years, the sweet sound of the group has evolved with the times but maintaining the group’s essence of creating sounds of African heartbeat and soul that espouses music for its soul survival.

On top of mind, when one talks about successful musical groups in Soweto, the Soweto String Quartet lands easily on the list of sustainable musical organizations. The group has defined itself as a pioneer of greatness and ultimate reference point in the genre of music it has come to be known about the world over stringing its way to the mountain top. It is a brand that goes beyond monotonous putting together of musical instrument but theirs is an immaculate blend and discreet selection of sound that tells the great South African stories in particular and Africa in general.

An estimated 20 Million number of people have been reached through album sale since the band’s inception. The reach is of loyal album collectors as well as new audience reached through dedicated projects such as the 2006 Gospel Album that saw sales of more than 50 000 and the recent Afrikaans Album that went platinum after a week of sales.