Arts & Culture

Music

Musicians, genres, releases and musical heritage, from Cape jazz and Miriam Makeba to amapiano and this year's charts. The Music landing page is the place to start.

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People in Music

Music

Miriam Makeba

Singer and civil-rights campaigner, 1932 to 2008; the voice of 'Pata Pata'

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Photo: Rob Mieremet / Anefo, Nationaal Archief · Public domain
Music

Abdullah Ibrahim

Pianist and composer of 'Mannenberg', born in Cape Town in 1934

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Photo: Harald Krichel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Music

Kyle Shepherd

Cape Town jazz pianist and composer, born in 1987

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Photo: Hreinn Gudlaugsson · CC BY-SA 4.0
Music

Hugh Masekela

Trumpeter, composer and singer, 1939 to 2018; 'Grazing in the Grass' and 'Stimela'

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Photo: John Leeson · CC BY 2.0
Music

Johnny Clegg

Musician and anthropologist who fused Zulu and Western music with Juluka and Savuka, 1953 to 2019

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Photo: Gorup de Besanez · CC BY-SA 3.0
Music

Black Coffee

DJ and producer from Durban; Grammy winner in 2022 for the album 'Subconsciously'

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Photo: DeepBluuue · CC0
Music

Tyla

Johannesburg-born pop star; 'Water' won the first Grammy for Best African Music Performance in 2024

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Photo: Capital FM Kenya · CC BY 3.0
Music

Feya Faku

Jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player from Gqeberha, 1962 to 2025

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Photo: Matija Puzar · CC BY-SA 4.0
Music

Louis Mhlanga

Zimbabwe-born guitarist and producer based in South Africa

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Photo: Paul Baker · CC BY 2.0
Music

Pops Mohamed

Multi-instrumentalist and producer, 1949 to 2025; a champion of indigenous instruments

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Photo: flowcomm · CC BY 2.0
Music

Kabza De Small

DJ and producer widely called the King of Amapiano

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Music

Brenda Fassie

Pop singer from Langa, Cape Town, known as the Queen of African Pop, 1964 to 2004

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Music

Msaki

Singer-songwriter from the Eastern Cape, known for 'Fetch Your Life' with Prince Kaybee

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Music

Sun-El Musician

Producer and DJ behind 'Akanamali', a leading voice of South African Afro house

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Music

Bongi Dube

Afro-pop singer-songwriter behind 'Ngaphesheya'; daughter of reggae legend Lucky Dube

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Music

Shamzisto

Singer behind the single 'Thandiwe', featured in our new-music notes

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Image credits

Abdullah Ibrahim: File:Abdullah Ibrahim-64644.jpg · Harald Krichel (Harald Krichel / WikiPortraits) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped to 3:4 and resized for display · via Wikimedia Commons
Black Coffee: File:Black Coffee perfoming at Hï Ibiza in June 2018.jpg · DeepBluuue · CC0 · Cropped to 3:4 and resized for display · via Wikimedia Commons
Feya Faku: File:Feya Faku, Oslo Jazzfestival 2017.jpg · Matija Puzar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped to 3:4 and resized for display · via Wikimedia Commons
Hugh Masekela: File:Hugh Masekela 2008.jpg · John Leeson · CC BY 2.0 · Cropped to 3:4 and resized for display · via Wikimedia Commons
Johnny Clegg: File:Johnny Clegg (cropped).jpg · Gorup de Besanez · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped to 3:4 and resized for display · via Wikimedia Commons
Kyle Shepherd: File:Kyle-shepherd07.jpg · Hreinn Gudlaugsson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped to 3:4 and resized for display · via Wikimedia Commons
Louis Mhlanga: File:Louis Mhlanga in September 2007.jpg · Paul Baker · CC BY 2.0 · Cropped to 3:4 and resized for display · via Wikimedia Commons
Miriam Makeba: File:Miriam Makeba (1969).jpg · Rob Mieremet / Anefo, Nationaal Archief · Public domain · Cropped to 3:4 and resized for display · via Wikimedia Commons
Pops Mohamed: File:Pops Mohamed 2011.jpg · flowcomm · CC BY 2.0 · Cropped to 3:4 and resized for display · via Wikimedia Commons
Tyla: File:Tyla Seethal 2022 a.png · Capital FM Kenya · CC BY 3.0 · Cropped to 3:4 and resized for display · via Wikimedia Commons