As children, the Mathoho siblings grew up listening to the music of their late father, Hudson Mphatheleni Mathoho, a popular guitarist and Tshivenda musician. Inspired by his legacy, brothers Reckson and Godfrey Mathoho developed a deep love of music. When the time was right, they formed a band and named it Tshinombeloni Family.
Fittingly, the band's name is derived from the litchi trees planted at their home. Today, their music provides the "fruit" that nourishes the souls of their many fans.
The group has been active for years, growing steadily in the local music industry. With seven full albums - all in Tshivenda - to their name, the band from Tshivhulana outside Sibasa has been hailed as one of the best, longest-standing, and most consistent traditional music groups. While many bands have come and gone, Tshinombeloni Family has remained true to its roots.
Demonstrating their commitment to their Venda heritage, the group released their eighth album, Zwivhuya, in November 2024. The six-track album, recorded at the Easy Road to Fame Studio in Tshifulanani and produced by Nelton Dama, features standout songs such as the title track Zwivhuya and Salani.
Group leader Reckson Mathoho is excited about the new project. "We are back with a bang, ready to reclaim our top spot on the Tshivenda traditional music scene. Not winning anything at the Tshima Awards last year didn't discourage us - it motivated us. Reaching the finals showed that we're moving in the right direction. We will continue with this genre, even though many consider it non-commercial. We may be overlooked for bookings and gigs, but we will never stop making music," he said.
Mathoho added that they were already working on their next project. "We'll soon embark on a promotional tour across the province. It's not that fans don't love this music—there just isn't enough effort to promote it. Music is not only about financial gain but about passion. You can release a song, and it may not sell well, but that doesn't mean you should stop. As a group, we are very passionate about our craft, and we promise our fans more fire in the near future," he said.