Bhekumuzi Luthuli (13 July 1961 - 7 April 2010) was a well known
South African ''
Maskandi
Maskandi is a form of Zulu folk music, originally associated with migrant workers, that is evolving with South African society. Often characterised by a picking guitar style which draws on a variety of historical influences it also has an impor ...
'' musician. Born in
Kwa-Maphumulo, near the
Kwa-Zulu Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...
town of
Stanger
KwaDukuza is a municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 2006, the municipal name was changed to KwaDukuza (which incorporates small towns such as Stanger, Balito, Shaka's Kraal, but the Zulu people in the area called it "Dukuza" well before ...
, he started making traditional
Zulu music
The Zulu people are a South African ethnic group. Many Zulu musicians have become a major part of South African music, creating a huge influence in the music industry. A number of Zulu-folk derived styles have become well known across South Africa ...
on a home-made guitar. In the early 1980s, he joined the ''
Mbaqanga
Mbaqanga () is a style of South African music with rural Zulu music, Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today. The style originated in the early 1960s.
History
Historically, laws such as the Natives' Land Act, Land Act ...
'' band
Oshimi, based in
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
. After two albums with the group, Luthuli embarked on a successful solo career. His second and third solo releases, ''Unembeza'' and ''Wongikhonzela Enhliziyweni'', won OKTV awards, and were followed by another 17 albums. ''Impempe'' attained platinum status, selling over 50,000 copies.
After 23 albums with over a million sale he released ''Imali YabeLungu'' in 2010. It reached gold status in just one week and the title track won a SATMA 2011 award in the category of best song.
Discography
studio albums
* ''Uzoyidel' Inkani'' (1988)
* ''Wongikhonzela Enhliziyweni'' (1989)
* ''Ngizokwala Uzokhala'' (1990)
* ''Unembeza'' (1991)
* ''Ngizokwala Uzokhala'' (1992)
* ''Ubuyile'' (1992)
* ''Ziph' Ezakho'' (1993)
* ''Ngidedele'' (1994)
* ''Iphupho'' (1995)
* ''Impatha'' (1996)
* ''Afrika Hlangana'' (1996)
* ''Dear Msakazi'' (1997)
* ''Umaliyavuza'' (1998)
* ''Incwadi'' (1999)
* ''Phaphiyosi'' (2000)
* ''Khokha'' (2001)
* ''Igazi Lami'' (2002)
* ''Udumo Lwakhe'' (2003)
* ''A.T.M'' (2004)
* ''Impempe'' (2005)
* ''Inkinga Ngu R7'' (2006)
* ''Unembeza'' (2008)
* ''1818'' (2009)
* ''Imali Yabelungu'' (2010)
* ''Isipho (The Gift)'' (2011)
Death
Luthuli died aged 48 at McCord Hospital, Durban, after struggling for several weeks with the after-effects of a stroke. He was posthumously nominated for the 2012
18th South African Music Awards in the categories of Male Artist of the Year and Best Traditional Music Album for his last release, ''Isipho (Gift)''.
Rivalry
Luthuli was engaged for some time in a musical rivalry with fellow
Maskanda
Maskandi is a form of Zulu folk music, originally associated with migrant workers, that is evolving with South African society. Often characterised by a picking guitar style which draws on a variety of historical influences it also has an impor ...
singer
Thokozani Langa
Thokozani Langa (born 9 February 1972) is a ''Maskandi'' musician from Mahlabathini, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.
Langa signed with Bula Music in 2004 to release his third studio album '' I-Protection Order'' (2011). After receiving exposure on ...
. The dispute is the subject of Langa's album entitled ''Phuma Kimi''.
References
External links
*
* {{AllMusic, class=artist, id=mn0002309848, name=Bhekumuzi Luthuli
Maskanda musicians
1961 births
2010 deaths