Mzilikazi Khumalo

On 22 June 2021, Mzilikazi Khumalo died two days after his 89th birthday following a long illness.

In 2015 Wits University awarded him an honorary doctorate.

Khumalo was commissioned by Opera Africa for an opera, resulting in Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu (2002), a work about the Zulu princess, musician and poet Princess Constance Magogo kaDinuzulu. The opera was the first Zulu language opera.

In 1986 he composed a choral work for the enthronement of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Khumalo is also the composer of the cantata uShaka KaSenzangakhona, which tells the story of the Zulu king, Shaka.

Khumalo's career in the Department of African Languages of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg began in 1969, when he held a position as a tutor. He advanced to become a professor of African languages and head of the Department of African Languages at Wits.

His first composition was Ma Ngificwa Ukufa, which had its premiere in 1959.

After completing high school Khumalo enrolled at the teachers' training college in Mamelodi. He continued his studies, obtaining a bachelor's degree with majors in English and Zulu in 1956 from the University of South Africa. He went on to obtain master's degree and, in 1988, a PhD, both from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

James Steven Mzilikazi Khumalo (20 June 1932 —22 June 2021) was a South African composer and professor emeritus of African languages at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Khumalo was born on the farm KwaNgwelu in Natal in 1932. Shortly after Khumalo's birth his parents were ordained as ministers in the Salvation Army, which ran the farm at the time. The family moved to Hlabisa, where Khumalo started school.