Mzilikazi Khumalo: iconic composer who defied apartheid odds to leave a rich legacy
PROFESSOR James Steven Mzilikazi Khumalo (1932-2021), who has died at the age of 89, had a distinguished career as a linguist, which complemented a stellar career in music. THOMAS POOLEY, Associate Professor and Chair of Department: Art and Music, University of South Africa He was the leading composer and director of choral music to emerge from South Africa. His opera, Princess Magogo, was the first by a black South African. Today he is among the most widely performed of all South African composers. He achieved international recognition for performances of his major works in Europe and the US. This is…