Bhekumuzi Luthuli

Not to be confused with Bhekizizwe Luthuli.
Bhekumuzi Luthuli
Background information
Birth nameBhekumuzi Luthuli
Born(1961-07-13)July 13, 1961
KwaMaqumbi, KwaMaphumulo, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
DiedApril 7, 2010(2010-04-07) (aged 48)
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, Republic of South Africa
GenresMaskandi
InstrumentVocals
Years active1980–2010

Bhekumuzi Luthuli (13 July 1961 – 7 April 2010) was a well known South African Maskandi musician. Born in Kwa-Maphumulo, near the Kwa-Zulu Natal town of Stanger, he started making traditional Zulu music on a home-made guitar. In the early 1980s, he joined the Mbaqanga band Oshimi, based in Durban. After two albums with the group, Luthuli embarked on a successful solo career. His second and third solo releases, Unembeza and Wongikhonzela Enhliziyweni, won OKTV awards, and were followed by another 17 albums. Impempe attained platinum status, selling over 50,000 copies.[1]

After 23 albums with over a million sales he released Imali YabeLungu in 2010. It reached gold status in just one week and the title track won a SATMA 2011 award in the category of best song.[2]

Discography

studio albums

  • Uzoyidel' Inkani (1988)
  • Wongikhonzela Enhliziyweni (1989)
  • Ngizokwala Uzokhala (1990)
  • Unembeza (1991)
  • Ngizokwala Uzokhala (1992)
  • Ubuyile (1992)
  • Ziph' Ezakho (1993)
  • Ngidedele (1994)
  • Iphupho (1995)
  • Impatha (1996)
  • Afrika Hlangana (1996)
  • Dear Msakazi (1997)
  • Umaliyavuza (1998)
  • Incwadi (1999)
  • Phaphiyosi (2000)
  • Khokha (2001)
  • Igazi Lami (2002)
  • Udumo Lwakhe (2003)
  • A.T.M (2004)
  • Impempe (2005)
  • Inkinga Ngu R7 (2006)
  • Unembeza (2008)
  • 1818 (2009)
  • Imali Yabelungu (2010)
  • Isipho (The Gift) (2011)

Death

Luthuli died aged 48 at McCord Hospital, Durban,[3] after struggling for several weeks with the after-effects of a stroke.[4] He was posthumously nominated for the 2012 18th South African Music Awards in the categories of Male Artist of the Year and Best Traditional Music Album for his last release, Isipho (Gift).

Rivalry

Luthuli was engaged for some time in a musical rivalry with fellow Maskanda singer Thokozani Langa.[5] The dispute is the subject of Langa's album entitled Phuma Kimi.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Bhekumuzi Luthuli". whoswhosa.co.za. Archived from the original on 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  2. ^ "Bhekumuzi Luthuli". Archived from the original on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  3. ^ "Bhekumuzi Luthuli Sadly passed away this morning at 10H15AM at McCord Hospital KZN - Times Media Group". avusa.co.za. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  4. ^ "The Witness". Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2013-05-16.[_id]=38612
  5. ^ "mio.co.za". www.mio.co.za. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  6. ^ "Bula Music - Catalogue". Archived from the original on 2011-02-15. Retrieved 2012-04-04.