Top 10 South African Musicains Of All Time

The richness in South African music can be traced back a few generations. This goes to show that the current state of our music industry, the rapid speed at which it is growing owes to the strong back ground and the pillars of the industry. It takes a certain type of talent to get into the industry, do well and yet remain relevant throughout generations to come. This list will highlight 10 of the best musicians in South Africa.

1. Brenda Fassie

Born in 1964 in Langa, a township near Cape Town Brenda Fassie was named after the American country singer Brenda Lee. In 2001, Time magazine featured a three page special on Brenda, calling her “The Madonna of the Townships”. During the last few years of her life she regularly toured the African continent as well as America.Throughout the decade Brenda also established herself as a great solo pop star. In the late 1980s she began working with producer Sello “Chicco” Twala, a partnership that proved to be one of the most successful in the South African music business. The album Too Late for Mama, which was born from this duo, achieved platinum status in 1989.

2. MiriamMakeba

South African singer and human rights campaigner, Miriam Makeba was the first vocalist to put African music onto the international map in the 1960s. She was well known throughout the world known as ‘Mama Africa’ and the ‘Empress of African Song’. Mirriam Makeba has received honorary doctorates from both local and international academic institutions. The city of Berkeley proclaimed the 16 June to be Miriam Makeba Day and she has received the highest decoration from Tunisia and in 1999, Nelson Mandela presented her with the Presidential Award.

3. Yvonne Chakachaka

She had her first hit as a teenager with the song I’m in Love with a DJ in 1984. She was at the forefront of the Bubblegum genre for much of the 1980s. Today Yvonne is known as the Princess of Africa, performing artist, entrepreneur, and humanitarian.

4. Simphiwe Dana

BORN in the Transkei, Eastern Cape, Simphiwe Dana entered South African music mainstream in 2004 with her debut album Zandisile. Dana sings an artful musical form that blends traditional African music with contemporary soul and hence shows hints of gospel and blues. She has been likened to singers such as Miriam Makeba and Dorothy Masuka.

5. Abdul Ibrahim

Abdul Ibrahim is a South African pianist and composer. He has written the soundtracks for a number of films, including Chocolat (1988), and 1990’s No Fear, No Die. Abdul Ibrahim was born Adolph Johannes Brand on 9 October 1934. He attended Trafalgar High School in District Six of Cape Town. He went on to study at Juilliard School of Music in New York.

6. Hugh Masikela

Hugh Masekela is a world-renowned flugel hornist, trumpeter, bandleader, composer, singer and defiant political voice. In 2004 Masekela published his compelling autobiography, Still Grazing: The Musical Journey of Hugh Masekela. Hugh is currently using his global reach to spread the word about heritage restoration in Africa – a topic that remains very close to his heart.

7. Johnny Clegg

Johnny Clegg was born in England in 1953 to an English father and a Zimbabwean mother. He left England for Zimbabwe where he lived until the age of seven. He and his mother moved to South Africa following her marriage to a South African Journalist. Over three decades, Johnny Clegg has sold over five million albums of his brand of crossover music worldwide. Clegg and Mchunu formed the band Juluka ,producing a blend on traditional Zulu and pop music. In 2011 he celebrated 30 years in the music industry with a world tour.

8. Sibongile Khumalo

Sibongile Khumalo studied violin, singing, drama and dance. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of Zululand, a BA Honours and a Higher Diploma in Personnel Management from the University of the Witwatersrand. She has taught and researched music at the University of Zululand, FUBA Academy and at the Madimba Institute of African Music. Through her music, Sibongile Khumalo shares the spice, wisdom, and wealth of experience inherited from her family and community. In 2013 she has been recognised by the Naledi Theatre Awards with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

9. Lady Smith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland, and have won multiple awards, including four Grammy Awards. Joseph Shabalala formed Ladysmith Black Mambazo because of a series of dreams he had in 1964, in which he heard certain isicathamiya harmonies. In January 1999, Joseph Shabalala founded “The Ladysmith Black Mambazo Foundation”. The aim of the organization is to teach young Zulu South African children about their traditional culture and music, isicathamiya.

10. Lira

After winning a competitions for young singers and songwriters, Lira started performing live at the age of 16, singing both cover versions and self-penned songs. She received five nominations at the South African Grammy Awards (Best New Artist, Best Female Artist, Best R&B Album, Best Single, and Best Video). “Feel Good”, was hailed as a great Afro-jazz album. It had hits like Feel good and Ixesha. Her music is a sweet mix of Afro-Jazz, RnB, and soul.