Sibongile Khumalo

Sibongile Khumalo OIS (24 September 1957 – 28 January 2021) was a South African singer. She sang classical, jazz, opera, and traditional South African music. She was noted for singing at the inauguration of Nelson Mandela in 1994, as well as the final of the Rugby World Cup the following year. She was appointed to the Order of Ikhamanga in 2008.

Khumalo in 2008

Early life

Khumalo was born in Orlando West, Soweto, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 24 September 1957.[1] Her mother worked as a nurse;[1] her father, Khabi Mngoma, was a professor of music.[2][3] He inspired her to pursue music and Khumalo started learning when she was eight years old.[3][4] She studied music at the University of Zululand, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts from that institution.[1][5] She proceeded to earn a second Bachelor of Arts (with honours) from the University of the Witwatersrand,[1] along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management from the Wits Business School.[4]

Career

Academia

Khumalo taught at the University of Zululand (her alma mater) and the Madimba Institute of African Music during the 1980s. During this time, she was also the Head of the Music department at the Federated Union of Black Arts. She served as the Arts Centre coordinator at the FUNDA Centre.[4]

Music

Khumalo began her career in singing at the Kippies Jazz International in 1992. She went on to win the Standard Bank Young Artist Award at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown the following year.[4][5] Her show which sold-out, called The Three Faces of Sibongile Khumalo, involved a mix of jazz, opera, and local indigenous music.[4]

Khumalo sang at the 75th birthday of Nelson Mandela in 1993,[6] as well as at his inauguration as President of South Africa one year later.[7][8] He gave her the popular moniker of South Africa's "First Lady of Song".[8][9][10] She subsequently led the national anthems of South Africa and of New Zealand at the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.[6] She later revealed in 2017 that this was "the one and only time I’ve ever watched a rugby match, at any level, of any kind".[8] She released her debut album, titled Ancient Evenings, the following year.[4] Several music critics stated that this was one of her finest works.[11]

Khumalo sang as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Verdi's Requiem when The Bach Choir under David Willcocks toured South Africa in 1997.[4] She featured as a soloist for symphony orchestras in South Africa, and performed as the title character in Carmen, Amneris in Aida, and Azucena in Il trovatore for national theatre operas.[4] She went on to perform internationally at the Royal Albert Hall,[7] Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Centre, Kennedy Centre, and the HetMuzik Theater in Amsterdam.[4]

Later life

Khumalo established the Khabi Mngoma Foundation in March 2007. Named after her father, the purpose of the foundation was to raise funds for the Khongisa Academy for the Performing Arts (which was created by him), as well as to provide scholarships to talented individuals in the arts.[4] That same year, she did a tour in Europe with Jack DeJohnette,[4] in which they featured at the London Jazz Festival in November.[12] She also performed in an Opera Africa production in Oslo, Norway. Khumalo toured the United States the following year with Hugh Masekela and performed at the Celebrate Brooklyn! festival.[4]

Khumalo was awarded Silver class of the Order of Ikhamanga in 2008. This was in recognition of her contributions to the country's arts and culture.[7] She was granted a Doctor of Music honoris causa one year later by Rhodes University in Grahamstown.[4][13] She was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Musicology by the University of South Africa in Pretoria,[14] as well as an honorary Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Zululand.[14]

Khumalo released her final album, Breath of Life, in 2016. She cited financial and artistic difficulties for the seven-year hiatus, explaining how the time she spent recording in a studio was sporadic as an independent artist. She also reportedly trained as an inyanga during this time.[15]

Khumalo died on 28 January 2021. She was 63, and suffered a stroke following a long term period of illness prior to her death.[7][16]

Discography
  • Ancient Evenings (1996)[9][17]
  • Live at the Market Theatre (1998)[17]
  • Immortal Secrets (2000)[17][9]
  • Quest (2002)[6]
  • Sibongile Khumalo (2006)[18]
  • Greatest Hits (2006)[9]
  • Sibongile Khumalo Live (2009)[19]
  • Breath of Life (2016)[15]

References
  1. Matlala, Lerato (28 January 2021). "LISTICLE: Highlights of musician Sibongile Khumalo's life". SABC News. South African Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  2. "Khumalo, Sibongile (South Africa)", www.music.org.za.
  3. Nyikana, Hlumelo (15 November 2019). "Famous Artist Dr Sibongile Khumalo visits UNIZULU". University of Zululand. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. "Rhodes University awards four Honorary Doctorates". Rhodes University. 15 April 2009. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. "Sibongile Khumalo". 14 August 2009.
  6. Matlala, Lerato (28 January 2021). "Legendary singer Sibongile Khumalo has passed on". SABC News. South African Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  7. "South African jazz singer Sibongile Khumalo dies after stroke". Reuters. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  8. Russonello, Giovanni (1 February 2021). "Sibongile Khumalo, South Africa's 'First Lady of Song,' Dies at 63". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  9. Mahlahla, Sesona (28 January 2021). "Legendary musician Sibongile Khumalo's Top 5 Songs". SABC News. South African Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  10. Eloff, Herman (28 January 2021). "PHOTOS – Remembering SA's First Lady of Song, Sibongile Khumalo". News24. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  11. "Sibongile Khumalo was born on this day". South African History Online. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  12. Fordham, John (24 November 2008). "Jazz: Jack DeJohnette/Arild Andersen". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  13. Professor Paul Maylam, Citation for Sibongile Khumalo, Honorary Graduand, Rhodes University, 18 April 2009.
  14. "Profile: Sibongile Khumalo". What's on in Joburg. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  15. Makhoba, Ntombizodwa (9 May 2016). "Sibongile Khumalo has a new breath of life". City Press. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  16. "SA singer Sibongile Khumalo, 63, dies after 'lengthy period of illness'". News24. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  17. "Sibongile Khumalo – Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  18. Mabandu, Percy (22 April 2012). "Two decades of song". City Press. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  19. "Sibongile Khumalo – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
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