Jabu Khanyile
Encyclopedia
Jabu Khanyile was a South African musician and lead vocalist from the band Bayete.
, and was forced to abandon his education at the age of fourteen in order to earn a living, after his mother died. His father was a miner
and performed traditional a capella songs, and his brother John played in a reggae
and soul
covers band. Jabu followed them into music, first joining a local band called The Daffodils, and in 1974 joining John's band The Editions as a drummer, later becoming the group's vocalist. In 1977 he moved on to The Movers, and by 1984 Khanyile had joined Bayete as drummer, a band that combined Afro-jazz and reggae. Bayete split up in 1992, and Khanyile embarked on a solo career, with releases credited to Jabu Khanyile & Bayete, although none of the original members of Bayete were involved by this time. Khanyile became known internationally in 1996 after an appearance at the Royal Gala evening in honour of Nelson Mandela
.
In 1996 and 2000 he won the Kora award for best Southern African artist. He performed internationally with Youssou N'Dour
, Angelique Kidjo
and Papa Wemba
. He was known for his Pan-Africanist
approach to music, attempting to unite different African styles. He generally performed in a Maasai
costume carrying a trademark fly-whisk
, an African symbol of royalty.
Khanyile performed at the Live 8
concert in Johannesburg
in July 2005. His final public appearance was in July 2006 at the "Africa Calling" handover ceremony at the end of the World Cup
in Berlin
.
He died in November 2006 after a battle with diabetes and prostate cancer.
Biography
Khanyile was born in SowetoSoweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
, and was forced to abandon his education at the age of fourteen in order to earn a living, after his mother died. His father was a miner
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and performed traditional a capella songs, and his brother John played in a reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
covers band. Jabu followed them into music, first joining a local band called The Daffodils, and in 1974 joining John's band The Editions as a drummer, later becoming the group's vocalist. In 1977 he moved on to The Movers, and by 1984 Khanyile had joined Bayete as drummer, a band that combined Afro-jazz and reggae. Bayete split up in 1992, and Khanyile embarked on a solo career, with releases credited to Jabu Khanyile & Bayete, although none of the original members of Bayete were involved by this time. Khanyile became known internationally in 1996 after an appearance at the Royal Gala evening in honour of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
.
In 1996 and 2000 he won the Kora award for best Southern African artist. He performed internationally with Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour is a Senegalese singer, percussionist and occasional actor. In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, in Senegal and much of Africa, "perhaps the most famous singer alive." He helped develop a style of popular music in Senegal, known in the Serer language as mbalax, a type of music...
, Angelique Kidjo
Angélique Kidjo
Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo, commonly known as Angélique Kidjo is a Grammy Award–winning Beninoise singer-songwriter and activist, noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos. Time Magazine has called her "Africa's premier diva". The BBC has...
and Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba was born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in 1949 in Lubefu . He is a Congolese rumba musician, one of Africa's most popular musicians, and prominent in World music.-Zaiko Langa Langa:...
. He was known for his Pan-Africanist
Pan-Africanism
Pan-Africanism is a movement that seeks to unify African people or people living in Africa, into a "one African community". Differing types of Pan-Africanism seek different levels of economic, racial, social, or political unity...
approach to music, attempting to unite different African styles. He generally performed in a Maasai
Maasai
The Maasai are a Nilotic ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are among the best known of African ethnic groups, due to their distinctive customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa...
costume carrying a trademark fly-whisk
Fly-whisk
A fly-whisk is a tool to swat or disturb flies. It is used as a regalia in some cultures.In Indonesian art, a fly-whisk is one of the items associated with Shiva. The fly-whisk is frequently seen as an attribute of both Hindu, Daoist, and Buddhist deities...
, an African symbol of royalty.
Khanyile performed at the Live 8
Live 8
Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 Conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland from 6–8 July 2005; they also coincided with the 20th anniversary of Live Aid...
concert in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
in July 2005. His final public appearance was in July 2006 at the "Africa Calling" handover ceremony at the end of the World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
He died in November 2006 after a battle with diabetes and prostate cancer.
Discography
- Mmalo-We (1993) IslandIsland RecordsIsland Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
/Teal - Africa Unite (1996) Mango
- Umkhaya-Lo (1996) Mango
- The Prince (1999) Gallo/Wrasse
- Thobekile (2000) Teal
- Umbele (2001) Gallo
- Wankolota (2005) Gallo
- Hiyo Lento (2005) Stern's