Don Laka is a South African jazz musician and songwriter who is famous for founding the "kwaai-jazz" genre. Laka studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where he completed Grade 8 in classical guitar. His musical career began in 1969 with the formation of a first band followed by a debut recording in 1972. Between 1980 and 1981, Laka performed with the afro-fusion group Sakhile before establishing the ensemble Ymage. Laka co-launched the record label Kalawa Jazmee, which became one of the first successful black-owned companies in South Africa. His discography includes the studio recordings I Wanna Be Myself (1984), Lost Time (1991), and Destiny (1997), alongside the EP “Stages of Love” (1986). In 2013, Laka received a Grammy Award nomination for Best World Music Album for producing the Hugh Masekela recording Jabulani.
