Mzwakhe Mbuli
Mzwakhe Mbuli (born 1 August 1959) is a South African poet, Mbaqanga singer and former Deacon at Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Naledi Soweto, South Africa. Known as "The People's Poet, Tall Man, Mbulism, The Voice Of Reason", he is the father of Mzwakhe Mbuli Junior, also known as Robot_Boii.
Early life
He was born in Sophiatown, and shortly moved after his family was forced to move to Soweto when the government bulldozed his home town.[1]
Career
His works include a book of poems, Before Dawn (1989), and albums Change Is Pain (1986), Unbroken Spirit (1989), Resistance Is Defence (1992), and Africa (1993). His poems are mainly in English but draw on his native Zulu as well as traditional praise poetry and rap. His best-known poem is "Change Is Pain," a protest piece about oppression and revolution, which was initially banned until growing pressure forced South Africa to allow more freedom of speech.[2] His first performance group was called Khuvhangano.
Throughout the 1980s, Mbuli was repeatedly detained by the authorities and denied a passport to travel while playing a leading role in the cultural activities of the
In 1990, he was profiled in the documentary film Songololo: Voices of Change.[5]
Mbuli was convicted in March 1999 of armed robbery and possession of a hand grenade-–crimes he has consistently denied committing; he and his supporters have always insisted he was framed by the government for speaking out against corruption. He was held at the Leeuwkop Maximum Security Prison, until his release in November 2003. His most recent release is Mbulism.[4]
Discography
Studio albums
- Change Is Pain (1986) Shifty (Rounder - USA)
- Unbroken Spirit (1988) Shifty Records
- Resistance Is Defence (1992) Stern's Earthworks
- Afrika (1993) CCP/EMI South Africa
- Izigi (1994) CCP/EMI, South Africa
- KwaZulu-Natal (1996) CCP / EMI South Africa
- Umzwakhe Ubongu Ujehovah (1997) CCP/EMI South Africa
- Mbulism (2004) CCP/EMI South Africa
Singles
Notes
- ^ Afropop! An Illustrated Guide to Contemporary African Music by Sean Barlow & Banning Eyre
- ^ African Music Encyclopedia: Mzwakhe Mbuli
- ^ South African Music
- ^ a b "Poetry Africa 2004". Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
- ^ Phil Johnson, "Songololo: the sound of freedom". The Globe and Mail, November 3, 1990.
References
- Afropop! An Illustrated Guide to Contemporary African Music by Sean Barlow & Banning Eyre. (Book Sales August 1995) ISBN 978-0-7858-0443-7
External links
- Free Mzwakhe Mbuli
- Mzwakhe Mbuli - plus sound clip
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