Formed in South Africa in 1978 with Patrick Sefolosha (percussion), Madoda Sosibo (drums and vocals), Duze Mahlobo (lead guitar, vocals), Samson Tshabalala (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Mokoka (bass, vocals).
They released their debut album, Fire, in 1982.
By this time their line-up had changed to Patrick Sefolosha (percussion), Madoda Sosibo (drums and vocals), Duze Mahlobo (lead guitar, vocals), Samson Shabalala (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Mokoka (bass, vocals) and Martin Rachabane (flute, sax).
They relocated to Europe (initially Paris) because they were finding it very difficult to exist as an anti-apartheid political band in South Africa. They released their follow-up album Malopoets in 1985. For this album their line-up had changed to: Patrick Sefolosha (percussion), Madoda Sosibo (drums and vocals), Kenny Mathaba (lead guitar, vocals), Samson Shabalala (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Mokoka (bass, vocals), Moss Manaka (percussion, vocals, rap) and a guest appearance from Mervyn Africa on keyboards. This album included the single “Sound of the People”.
They moved to Belgium and in 1989 released their final album Life is For Living which included the single “The End is Near”.
Several members of the Malopoets went on to form Sounds Of Soweto in 1989, also based in Europe.