Nakhane Mahlakahlaka (born Nakhane Lubabalo Mavuso,
3 February 1988) is a South African singer, songwriter, actor, and novelist. They are formerly known under the stage name Nakhane Touré.
Having grown up among a Christian community
in
Port Elizabeth
Gqeberha (), formerly Port Elizabeth and colloquially often referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, Sou ...
, at 15 they moved to
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...
, leaving the church
in 2013 and publicly celebrating their queerness with their debut album ''Brave Confusion''.
They found both controversy and critical acclaim with their starring role in
John Trengove's 2017 feature film ''Inxeba'' (
''The Wound''), and relocated to
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
to record and release 2018's heavily autobiographical album ''You Will Not Die''. Their work has been championed by
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
, who interviewed Nakhane on his
Beats 1
Apple Music 1, previously branded as Beats 1, is a 24/7 music radio station owned and operated by Apple Inc. It is accessible through iTunes or the Apple Music app on a computer, smartphone or tablet, smart speaker (such as the Apple HomePod), ...
radio show, and
Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
, who cited them as one of her two favourite artists and said their music influenced her 2019 album
''Madame X''.
Nakhane is non-binary with they/them pronouns.
Early life
Nakhane was born Nakhane Lubabalo Mavuso
in
Alice, a small rural town in South Africa's
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha.
The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...
, raised by their grandmother until they were five years old. At seven they were adopted by their aunt,
whom they has said is "to all intents and purposes" their mother,
and their husband, growing up with them in Port Elizabeth, attending a racially-integrated school,
where they learnt to speak English. A few years later they changed their surname to theirs, Mahlakahlaka,
and, affirming a more distinctive identity, dropped their commonplace middle name.
At 15 they moved to Johannesburg. Having known they were gay for a few years,
at 17 they came out to their friends and cousins. At 18 they began reading the work of
James Baldwin
James Arthur Baldwin (August 2, 1924 – December 1, 1987) was an American writer. He garnered acclaim across various media, including essays, novels, plays, and poems. His first novel, '' Go Tell It on the Mountain'', was published in 1953; de ...
, strongly identifying with the black queer characters;
Baldwin became a substantial influence. Nakhane studied two degrees at college – film music composition and acting, then literature, leaving both after a year.
At 19, an ex-girlfriend's mother outed Nakhane to their aunt, who took them to prophets who encouraged them to renounce their
homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions" to peop ...
.
Meeting a pastor's son, they became devoutly religious, joined a conservative
Baptist Church
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
, regularly attended bible studies, undertook
gay conversion therapy
Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. In contrast to evidence-based medicine and clin ...
, and preached against homosexuality.
Throughout five years of attempting to deny their homosexuality,
during which time they would secretly visit gay clubs,
they suffered guilt, fear and self-hatred.
They began to doubt the existence of
God
In monotheism, monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator deity, creator, and principal object of Faith#Religious views, faith.Richard Swinburne, Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Ted Honderich, Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Ox ...
, and at 25 had a breakdown, sleeping on sofas thanks to compassionate friends the church had told them to cut ties with.
They extricated themselves from the church
and became more black-conscious.
Music career
Beginnings (1995-2007)
Nakhane knew they wanted to be an artist after singing at a Christmas carol concert at the age of seven.
Their aunt was a classically trained opera singer
and at home would play
Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training i ...
,
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...
and
Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...
alongside
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., who also spelled his surname as Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo ar ...
and the
O'Jays
The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1958 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert, Walter Lee Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles. The O'Jays made their first chart appearance with the minor h ...
.
At school Nakhane played piano, studied classical trombone, played in a wind band and a steel band, and sang in a choir.
As a teenager they were inspired by
George Michael
George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the most significant cultural icons of the MTV generation and is one of the best-selling musici ...
's music and unapologetic queerness, and was later influenced by
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Greenwood (bass) ...
,
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...
,
and South African acts such as
TKZee
TKZee is a South African kwaito music group formed in 1990s by three school friends, Tokollo Tshabalala, Kabelo Mabalane, and Zwai Bala. The group shot to prominence in late 1997 and early 1998 with their chart-topping singles "Phalafala" and ...
,
Brenda Fassie
Brenda Nokuzola Fassie (3 November 1964 – 9 May 2004) was a South African singer, songwriter, dancer and activist. Affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans, she is also known as the "Queen of African Pop", the " Madonna of The Townships" or s ...
,
Hugh Maskela and
Thandiswa Mazwai
Thandiswa Nyameka Mazwai (born 31 March 1976) is a South African musician, and is also the lead vocalist and songwriter of Bongo Maffin. She is also known as King Tha. Her debut album ''Zabalaza'' (2004), which attained double platinum status ...
.
They worked part-time in a music shop, musically educating themself via the CDs they brought home.
Acoustic-guitar music and ''Brave Confusion'' (2007-2014)
At 19 their aunt bought them an acoustic guitar
and they began writing songs, performing in
open-mic
An open mic or open mike (shortened from "open microphone") is a live show at a venue such as a coffeehouse, nightclub, comedy club, strip club, or pub, usually taking place at night, in which audience members may perform on stage whether the ...
clubs and eventually getting signed,
calling themself Nakhane Touré in tribute to
Mali
Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali ...
an musician
Ali Farka Touré and as an ode to
pan-Africanism
Pan-Africanism is a worldwide movement that aims to encourage and strengthen bonds of solidarity between all Indigenous and diaspora peoples of African ancestry. Based on a common goal dating back to the Atlantic slave trade, the movement exte ...
.
Their debut album, the acoustic guitar-driven ''Brave Confusion'', released on 29 July 2013, was influenced by Ali Farka Touré and
West African
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Ma ...
music.
Lyrically it explored race, religion and sexuality.
In 2014, Nakhane won the Best Alternative Album award at the
South African Music Awards
The South African Music Awards (often simply the SAMAs) are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995. The ceremony is held annually, usually in late April or May, with the judging process starting in N ...
.
Although they had left the church, that night their pastor telephoned to tell them they were excommunicated.
Electronic music and ''You Will Not Die'' (2015-present)
Disillusioned with the
folk
Folk or Folks may refer to:
Sociology
*Nation
*People
* Folklore
** Folk art
** Folk dance
** Folk hero
** Folk music
*** Folk metal
*** Folk punk
*** Folk rock
** Folk religion
* Folk taxonomy
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Folk Plus or Fol ...
scene's perceived authenticity,
Nakhane began to gravitate towards a more electronic sound.
In 2015, they had a club hit, "We Dance Again", with house DJ
Black Coffee, then began writing their second album. Nearing their 30s and looking for closure, they wanted to end their 20s "on a positive note instead of an angry and bitter note",
the new songs inspired by their childhood, their family, and their leaving the church.
With a new sense of freedom and self-ownership, they dropped their stage surname Touré,
viewing ''You Will Not Die'' as a rebirth. The album title was taken from
Proverbs
A proverb (from la, proverbium) is a simple and insightful, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and use formulaic speech, formulaic language. A proverbial phra ...
23:13, referring to child discipline: 'If you punish them with the rod, they will not die.'
Eschewing acoustic guitar, they wrote it on piano,
recording 98% of it with producer
Ben Christophers
Benjamin John Christophers (born 1969) is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. To date he has released five albums: the first two on Virgin Records' V2 label, the third on Cooking V ...
at the latter's London studio;
Nakhane settled in the city in February 2018. They wanted to work with electronic drums and synthesisers, and told Christophers they wanted the album to sound like the second side of
David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
's
''Low'', "but with the spirit of
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), known professionally as Nina Simone (), was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, ...
." It was released on 16 March 2018.
Clash Music
''Clash'' is a music and fashion magazine and website based in the United Kingdom. It is published four times a year by Music Republic Ltd, whose predecessor Clash Music Ltd went into liquidation.
The magazine won the Best New Magazine award in ...
called it 'an incredibly beautiful document of self-acceptance, a soaring ode to self-worth, a blissful, remarkably assured piece of creativity.' ''
Q'' magazine wrote that it was a 'remarkable' album, 'defiantly modern and unashamedly emotional.' A deluxe edition, featuring the
Anohni collaboration "New Brighton", was released in North America on 22 February 2019.
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
wrote that the album was 'an instant revelation on its own terms,' calling it 'strikingly intimate.' In May 2019 it won Best Alternative Album at the
South African Music Awards
The South African Music Awards (often simply the SAMAs) are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995. The ceremony is held annually, usually in late April or May, with the judging process starting in N ...
.
In June 2019, to mark the 50th anniversary of the
Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall riots (also known as the Stonewall uprising, Stonewall rebellion, or simply Stonewall) were a series of spontaneous protests by members of the gay community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of Ju ...
, sparking the start of the modern
LGBTQ rights movement
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movements are social movements that advocate for LGBT people in society. Some focus on equal rights, such as the ongoing movement for same-sex marriage, while others focus on liberation, as in the ...
,
Queerty
''Queerty'' is an online magazine and newspaper covering gay-oriented lifestyle and news, founded in 2005 by David Hauslaib. As of June 2015, the site had more than five million monthly unique visitors.
History
''Queerty'' was founded by David ...
named them one of the Pride50 "trailblazing individuals who actively ensure society remains moving towards
equality
Equality may refer to:
Society
* Political equality, in which all members of a society are of equal standing
** Consociationalism, in which an ethnically, religiously, or linguistically divided state functions by cooperation of each group's elite ...
, acceptance and dignity for all
queer
''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century. Beginning in the lat ...
people".
Acting career
Following the release of ''Brave Confusion'', film director
John Trengove contacted Nakhane, asking them if they'd consider making the music for their 2017 film ''Inxeba'' (''The Wound'').
After they met, Trengove asked them if they'd audition to play the lead role of factory worker Xolani in the film,
which deals with
ulwaluko
Ulwaluko, traditional circumcision and initiation from childhood to adulthood, is an ancient initiation rite practised (though not exclusively) by the Xhosa people, and is commonly practised throughout South Africa. The ritual is traditionally i ...
– an
Xhosa
Xhosa may refer to:
* Xhosa people, a nation, and ethnic group, who live in south-central and southeasterly region of South Africa
* Xhosa language, one of the 11 official languages of South Africa, principally spoken by the Xhosa people
See als ...
initiation into manhood involving
circumcision
Circumcision is a surgical procedure, procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin ...
, which Nakhane had undertaken aged 20.
Due to protests, intimidation and vandalism in response to the film in South Africa, many cinemas cancelled screenings. Having initially been classified as a 16LS, it was then reclassified as X18, a certification usually reserved for hardcore pornography. In response, on social media Nakhane wrote of homophobia, saying they refused 'to live in shame for your
patriarchy
Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of dominance and privilege are primarily held by men. It is used, both as a technical anthropological term for families or clans controlled by the father or eldest male or group of males a ...
to keep on living.' Following "an onslaught"
of graphic death threats for their part in the film,
they resolved to speak out in the media as much as possible.
Despite media perception that they left South Africa because of the threats, they said that they moved to London in order to tour Europe less expensively, but admitted that 'times were not necessarily nice for me in South Africa,' and said the death threats made it hard to return to the Eastern Cape.
The film was selected as the South African entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at 2018's 90th
Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
, making the top-nine shortlist. Nakhane won awards for Best Actor at
Durban International Film Festival
The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is an annual film festival that takes place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Founded in 1979 by Teddy Sarkin and Ros Sarkin, it is the oldest and largest film festival in Africa and ...
,
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Palm Springs International Film Festival (sometimes stylized shortly as PSIFF) is a film festival held in Palm Springs, California. Originally promoted by Mayor Sonny Bono and then sponsored by Nortel,here for Table of Contents it started in 1989 ...
,
South African Film And Television Awards
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz ...
, and
Valencia International Film Festival Cinema Jove.
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
called their performance 'an impressive screen debut.' The Playlist wrote that they were 'incredibly affecting as their quiet, secretive, lonely soul.'
After watching ''Inxeba'' (''The Wound'') and then listening to their music,
John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell (born April 21, 1963) is a two-time Tony Award winning American actor, playwright, screenwriter, singer, songwriter, producer and director. He is best known as the writer, director and star of the 2001 film '' Hedwig and th ...
cast Nakhane as Jairo, 'a young man who struggles with a host of demons', in 2019's ''
Anthem: Homunculus'' podcast musical.
Writing
In 2015, Nakhane's debut novel ''Piggy Boy's Blues'' was published, set in their hometowns of Alice and Port Elizabeth and portraying a Xhosa royal family.
It was nominated for the
Barry Ronge Fiction Prize and the
Etisalat Prize for Fiction.
Discography
Studio Albums
*2013: ''Brave Confusion''
*2019: ''You Will Not Die''
*2023: ''Bastard Jargon''
Filmography
*2017: ''The Wound'' - as Xolani
*2019: ''
Anthem: Homunculus'' - as Jairo (8 episodes, TV series)
*2020: ''Two Eyes'' - as Thandi
References
{{Reflist
External links
IMDb: Nakhane Touré page
1988 births
Living people
21st-century South African singers
South African film actors
LGBT writers from South Africa
Lesbian writers
Non-binary musicians
Non-binary actors
LGBT singers from South Africa
Non-binary writers