Vusi Mahlasela
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use South African English|date=November 2012}}
{{BLP sources|date=April 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Vusi Mahlasela
| image = Vusi Mahlasela.jpg
| caption = Mahlasela in February 2009
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1965}}
| birth_place = Pretoria, South Africa
| death_date =
| years_active =
| origin = South Africa
| instrument = Vocals, guitar
| genre =
| occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician
| label = ATO, Wrasse, BMG, RCA, Label Bleu
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|vusimahlasela.com|VusiMahlasela.com}}
}}
File:Vusi Mahlasela 2015.jpg in Cape Town, 2015.]]
Vusi Sidney Mahlasela Ka Zwane (born 1965) is a Zulu South African singer-songwriter. He was born in Pretoria.
His music is generally described as "African folk" and he is often dubbed as "The Voice" of South Africa. His work was an inspiration to many in the anti-apartheid movement. His themes include the struggle for freedom, and forgiveness and reconciliation with enemies. Vusi has released seven studio albums on Sony in South Africa and was signed to Dave Matthews' ATO Records in 2003. Vusi can also be heard performing on Warren Haynes' Live at Bonnaroo release during the song "Soulshine", and the Dave Matthews Band song, "Everyday", from the album of the same name as well as a live version of the song with him which appears on the album The Best of What's Around Vol. 1. Vusi was also one of the performers at the Live 8 concerts and at Live Earth. Vusi performed at Nelson Mandela's inauguration in 1994 and has subsequently performed at Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute in Hyde Park, London in 2008, and at Mandela Day at Radio City Music Hall in July 2009. His song "When You Come Back" was used at ITV's theme song for their World Cup coverage in 2010{{Cite web|url=http://www.bettingisland.com/soccer-betting/world-cup-2010/when-you-come-back-itv-world-cup-theme-version-vusi-mahlasela|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819130531/http://www.bettingisland.com/soccer-betting/world-cup-2010/when-you-come-back-itv-world-cup-theme-version-vusi-mahlasela|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2014|title=When You Come Back (ITV World Cup theme version) – Vusi Mahlasela | Betting Island|date=19 August 2014|access-date=2020-03-20}} and Vusi performed at the FIFA World Cup Kick Off concert at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, South Africa.{{Cite web|url=http://controlroom.com/fifa/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410182610/http://controlroom.com/fifa/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 April 2010|title=FIFA WORLD CUP KICK–OFF CELEBRATION CONCERT | 10 June 2010 | Control Room|date=10 April 2010|access-date=2020-03-20}} In 2012, the SAMA Awards honored Vusi with a lifetime achievement award.{{Cite web|url=http://samusicawards.co.za/profiles/blogs/mtn-sama-18-salutes-ray-phiri-and-vusi-mahlasela|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414171514/http://samusicawards.co.za/profiles/blogs/mtn-sama-18-salutes-ray-phiri-and-vusi-mahlasela|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 April 2012|title=MTN SAMA 18 salutes Ray Phiri and Vusi Mahlasela - 18TH ANNUAL MTN SA MUSIC AWARDS|date=14 April 2012|access-date=2020-03-20}}
Recent works
His album The Voice released on ATO Records{{cite web|url=http://atorecords.com/releases/vusi-mahlasela-the-voice/ |title=Vusi Mahlasela : The Voice – ATO RECORDS |website=Atorecords.com |date=2016-10-31 |access-date=2016-12-23}} includes the popular track "Weeping", recorded with Josh Groban and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Vusi joined Mambazo for their October–November UK tour in 2004, and again for their 2007 UK tour, again from October to November 2007.
He and other South African musicians took part in the 2002 documentary Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony where they recalled the days of Apartheid.
In June 2007, Mahlasela spoke of apartheid and performed "Thula Mama" at the TED Conference in Arusha, Tanzania. He also performed at TED in Monterey, CA in March 2008. Vusi performed at the Skoll World Forum on 14 April 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://skollworldforum.org/speaker/vusi-mahlasela/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516075806/http://skollworldforum.org/speaker/vusi-mahlasela/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 May 2012|title=Vusi Mahlasela Musician - Profile | Skoll World Forum|date=16 May 2012|access-date=2020-03-20}}
On 7 July 2007 Mahlasela performed at the South African leg of Live Earth.
His album Guiding Star, as Naledi Ya Tsela (the name under which it is released in South Africa), won him the 2007 SAMA for Best Male Artist.
He has participated in videos for Playing for Change most notably "One Love" and "Stand By Me".
In April 2009, Vusi joined Bela Fleck on his Throw Down Your Heart Tour and was also featured on his album of the same name.{{cite web|url=http://throwdownyourheart.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705002123/http://throwdownyourheart.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-05 |title=Throw Down your Heart |website=Throwdownyourheart.com |access-date=2016-12-23}}
ITV used his song "When You Come Back" as their main theme for the opening credits of their coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The song was very popular amongst viewers and entered the UK Official Singles Chart on 4 July 2010 at No. 70.
His 2011 album, Say Africa, was produced by legendary bluesman Taj Mahal.{{cite web|url=http://www.jambands.com/news/2010/12/03/taj-mahal-produces-vusi-mahlasela |title=Taj Mahal Produces Vusi Mahlasela |website=Jambands.com |date=2010-12-03 |access-date=2016-12-23}} The album was released 18 January 2011 on ATO Records.{{cite web|url=http://atorecords.com/releases/say-africa/ |title=Say Africa – ATO RECORDS |website=Atorecords.com |date=2016-10-31 |access-date=2016-12-23}}
Since the 2013 release of the live album "Sing To The People (Celebrating 20 Years of 'When You Come Back') on ATO Records", Mahlasela has continued to release albums, most recently in 2020, 2021 and 2023 on the ATO, Strut and Gallo labels.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| Title
! Release Date ! Record Labels |
|---|
| When You Come Back
| 1992 | BMG Records Africa; Label Bleu/Indigo |
| Wisdom of Forgiveness
| 1994 | RCA Victor, BMG |
| Silang Mabele
| 1997 | BMG Africa; RCA Victor |
| Miyela Afrika
| rowspan="2" | 2000 | BMG Records Africa |
| Jungle of Questions
| Colossal Records, BMG Africa |
| Naledi Ya Tsela (Guiding Star)
| 2007 | ATO Records (US); Wrasse Records (UK) |
| Say Africa{{cite news |url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-11-17-return-of-the-voice |title=Return of The Voice |date=7 November 2010 |publisher=Mail & Guardian |last=Gedye |first=Lloyd}}
| 2010 | Sony Music; ATO Records (US); Wrasse Records (UK) |
=Live albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| Title
! Release Date |
|---|
| Live at the Bassline
| 1999 |
| Sing to the People
| 2013 |
=Soundtracks=
| class="wikitable" |
| Title
! Release Date |
|---|
| Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony
| 2002 |
| Tsotsi
| 2005 |
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| Title
! Release Date ! Billboard Top World Albums |
|---|
| Live at KEXP Volume 6
| 2010 | style="text-align:center;"|N/A |
| The Voice
| 2003 | style="text-align:center;"|13 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.vusimahlasela.com/}}
- {{TED speaker}}
- [http://www.ted.com/talks/vusi_mahlasela_sings_thula_mama "Thula Mama" (TEDGlobal 2007)]
- [http://www.ted.com/talks/vusi_mahlasela_s_encore_at_tedglobal2007 "Woza" (TEDGlobal 2007)]
- [http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=102 A profile of Vusi Mahlasela on Music.org.za]
- [http://www.mg.co.za/multimedia/2009-11-06-vusi-mahlasela Mail & Guardian Musical Slideshow: Vusi Mahlasela performs at the KykNET Irene Summer Series near Pretoria, South Africa, October 2009]
- [http://playingforchange.com/journey/musicians/37/Vusi_Mahlasela Playing for Change – Vusi Mahlasela]
- {{Discogs artist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahlasela, Vusi}}
Category:South African folk singers
Category:South African guitarists
Category:Musicians from Pretoria
Category:South African film score composers
Category:South African singer-songwriters
Category:Wrasse Records artists