| Birth Name: | Sello Twala |
| Alias: | Chicco Thwala |
| Birth Date: | 1963 6, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Genre: | Afropop |
| Associated Acts: | Brenda Fassie |
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.[1] [2] [3] [4] In the 1970s, he played in soul bands including Umoja and Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse's Harari, as well as forming his own band, Image.[5]
Twala was born in Soweto, Johannesburg, where he attended Bopasanatla High School.
Twala rose to prominence in the 1980s, writing a string of hit singles[6] such as We Miss You Manelo (1987), which was certified triple-platinum by RISA, as well as Brenda Fassie's Too Late for Mama (1989), which was certified platinum. The title of the former is a reference to Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned on Robben Island at the time.[7]
In 1992, Twala recorded a soul ballad entitled Peace Song, shortly before the nation's first democratic elections in 1994.[8] [9] 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.[10] [11] Some of Twala's songs feature in Lion King II.
Through his music studio in Soweto, he works to help develop young musical artists' careers. He has won various awards, such as a Lifetime Achievement South African Music Award[12] [13] and a Metro FM Music Award.[14]
Twala's song Modjadji was featured on the official soundtrack of the film Grimsby.[15]