Abel Selaocoe (born 1992) is a cellist, singer, composer and improviser from South Africa.
Biography
Selaocoe was born in 1992 in Sebokeng, a township in South Africa. He started learning classical cello following his older brother Sammy at a Saturday music programme for children at the African Cultural Organization of South Africa (ACOSA) in Soweto. At 13 Selacoe won a scholarship to St Johns College in Johannesburg. At the college he studied with the teacher Michael Masote, one of the most influential classical South African musicians.[1]
On 23 September 2022 Selaocoe released his debut album Where is Home (Hae Ke Kae).
Style
Abel Selaocoe combines classical cello with traditional South African singing. His vocals are inspired by the throat singing of the Xhosa people.[5] His music combines different genres including classical suite, township rhythms and ancestral anthems.[6] His tracks include translations in African languages including Sotho and Zulu.[1]
