Music
Kabza De Small: the Pretoria producer crowned king of amapiano
Kabza De Small, born Kabelo Petrus Motha in 1992, broke through with "Umshove" in 2018. With DJ Maphorisa…
south african music
Music
Busi Mhlongo: the queen of maskandi who took a male tradition and made it hers
Busi Mhlongo, born in Inanda in 1947, began her career with a 1963 South African hit version of…
Music
Vusi Mahlasela: “The Voice” who sang at Mandela’s inauguration
Vusi Mahlasela grew up in Mamelodi, built his first guitar from an oil can and fishing line, and…
Music
Bongo Maffin, Zabalaza and “King Tha”: Thandiswa Mazwai
Thandiswa Mazwai, born in 1976 and known as King Tha, was the lead vocalist and songwriter of the…
Music
Loliwe and a guitar: remembering Zahara, 1987 to 2023
Zahara, born Bulelwa Mkutukana in 1987, was a South African singer, songwriter and guitarist whose debut album Loliwe…
Arts + Culture
A groaner, three singers and a band that invented a style: Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens
Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens were brought together in Johannesburg in 1964 by producer Rupert Bopape at Gallo.…
Arts + Culture
Kwaito was the sound of freedom in 1990s Soweto: slowed-down house, township slang and swagger
Kwaito emerged in the townships of Johannesburg in the early 1990s, as apartheid ended. Built on slowed-down house…
Arts + Culture
Paul Simon went looking for South African sounds in 1985. He found Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the isicathamiya choir founded by Joseph Shabalala, reached a global audience through Paul Simon's 1986…
Arts + Culture
“Khona” brought Mafikizolo back and swept South Africa’s awards. It is still a wedding favourite
Mafikizolo released "Khona" featuring Uhuru on 10 January 2013 as the lead single from their comeback album Reunited.…
Arts + Culture
Time magazine called her the Madonna of the Townships. Brenda Fassie and “Weekend Special”
Brenda Fassie was 19 when "Weekend Special" made her a star in 1983. She became South Africa's biggest…