Sibongile Khumalo

Under the guidance of her father, a music professor, Sibongile Khumalo began studying music at the age of eight. Her academic approach is reflected in the fact that she holds music degrees from the University of Zululand (B.A. Mus.) and Wits University (B.A. Hons), as well as a Higher Diploma in Personnel Management (Wits). She has since researched music at the Madimba Institute of African Music, FUBA Academy and the University of Zululand. Khumalo has concentrated her work on the musical heritage of the Zulu, Sotho and Tsoga communities.

Her academic career has never impeded Khumalo’s engagement as a professional musician, however. In 1996, she released her acclaimed debut album Ancient Evenings. A year later she was the mezzo-soprano soloist for Sir David Willcocks in the Verdi Requiem that the London Bach Choir took to South Africa. By then, the singer had won the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award at the 1993 Grahamstown Festival. Her international reputation grew thanks to concerts in Egypt, France and London, where she sang at a Royal Albert Hall concert honouring President Nelson Mandela.

Despite these achievements, 50-year-old Sibongile Khumalo has always considered herself any ordinary South African woman with a passion for her nation’s music. Mandela once said to her: “You are indeed our national treasure. Your achievement is the achievement of our country as a whole. Let your music be the ambassador that will shape the hearts and minds of people all over the world in a quest for peace, love and harmony.” Lofty words for a woman who has continued to push back musical frontiers. Khumalo was involved in the first African opera “Princess Magogo ka Dinuzulu”, interpreting with brio the title role of Princess Magogo. One critic claimed she was “one of the greatest mezzo soprano voices of all times”, with a lower note of rare quality and “higher notes like those of a dramatic soprano”. In 2007, she began collaborating with one of the world’s greatest jazz drummers Jack DeJohnette.

March 2007

Daniel Brown