Born on April 3, 1951, in Cato Manor, South Africa, Madala Kunene is a singer, guitarist and producer. In 1959, his family moved to Kwa-Mashu after being evicted from Cato Manor by the Apartheid government. Building a guitar out of a cooking oil tin and fish gut for the strings, he began busking on the beach front in Durban and soon became a beloved performer in the townships. He was discovered by fellow South African musician Sipho Gumede, who brought him to Johannesburg, where he became a popular performer. Madala Kunene would go on to share the stage with artists such as Hugh Masekela, Winston Mankunku Ngozi and Busi Mhlongo. His catalog includes albums such as Madala Kunene (1990), Kon‘Ko Man (1996), the critically acclaimed 1959 (2015) and compilations like African Classics - King of the Zulu Guitar (2008).
