Winnie Khumalo
{{Short description|South African Afropop singer (1973–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| birth_name = Winnifred Khumalo
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1973|07|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Soweto, South Africa
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|01|07|1973|07|20|df=y}}
| death_place = Soweto, South Africa
| genre = Kwaito, Afropop
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Singer
- songwriter
- producer
- actress
- businesswoman
}}
| instrument = Vocals
| label = Kalawa Jazmee Records
WinnKay Music Records
}}
Winnifred Khumalo (20 July 1973 – 7 January 2025) was a South African Kwaito and Afropop singer, actor and television personality. She was known as one of the country's most prolific musical artists and for her collaborations with other South African artists including Brenda Fassie. She was the mother of Rethabile Khumalo, who would follow her mother into a successful career in the South African music industry.
Life and career
Khumalo was born on 20 July 1973 in Soweto.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Remembering Winnie Khumalo through her career journey |url=https://www.snl24.com/drum/celebs/news/remembering-winnie-khumalo-through-her-career-journey-20250108 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Drum |language=en-US}} She was raised by her grandmother, attending Mncube Senior Secondary School.{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Rest in power, Winnie Khumalo |url=https://www.dsac.gov.za/Minister%20Gayton%20McKenzie%20on%20the%20passing%20of%20Winnie%20Khumalo |website=South Africa Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture}} She began her musical career at age 13 in the 1980s, and would appear regularly on South African television.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-08 |title=Winnie Khumalo: South African singer and actress dies aged 51 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgm9mgpwz0ro |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Khumalo released her first album, Hey Laaitie at age 15.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 27, 2010 |title=Winnie's perfect life |url=https://www.snl24.com/drum/news/winnies-perfect-life-20170728 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Drum |language=en-US}} Early in her career she collaborated with some of South Africa's biggest musical stars, including Brenda Fassie, Sello Chicco Twala, Brothers of Peace, Bongo Maffin and DJ Cleo.{{Cite web |title=South African singer and house artist Winnie Khumalo dies aged 51 · News ⟋ RA |url=https://ra.co/news/81900 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Resident Advisor |language=en}} In addition to her musical career, Khumalo appeared in the SABC television series 'Muvhango' and 'Mponeng'.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-01-08 |title=Legendary South African singer Winnie Khumalo dies at 51 after short illness |url=https://www.newzimbabwe.com/legendary-south-african-singer-winnie-khumalo-dies-at-51-after-short-illness/ |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=NewZimbabwe.com |language=en-GB}}
After taking some time away from her career to raise her children, Khumalo returned to the music industry. In 2008, she released her most successful album, I Just Wanna Live My Life with Kalawa Jazmee Records. The album was certified gold. "Live My Life", the album's title track would become a staple of South African house music.
In 2010, Khumalo was diagnosed with ulcers after falling during a performance.{{Cite web |last=Mvelashe |first=Phakamani |date=2019-11-22 |title=Winnie Khumalo on her health scare: 'I can't afford to get sick. I want to get on stage and work' |url=https://www.snl24.com/drum/celebs/winnie-khumalo-on-her-health-scare-i-cant-afford-to-get-sick-i-want-to-get-on-stage-and-work-20191122 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Drum |language=en-US}} In 2013, she spent over a month in the hospital recovering from recurring ulcers, putting her career on hold.{{Cite web |last=Biyela |first=Khosi |date=January 15, 2016 |title=Back in the game |url=https://www.snl24.com/drum/news/back-in-the-game-20170728-3 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Drum |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=March 28, 2014 |title=Alive and kicking! |url=https://www.snl24.com/drum/news/alive-and-kicking-20170728 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Drum |language=en-US}} She would continue to be plagued with several health conditions for the rest of her life, including repeating stomach ulcers, chest pains and fainting spells.{{Cite web |last=Tsewu |first=Siya |title=From the archives {{!}} Winne Khumalo on her health problems, her kids and new music |url=https://www.snl24.com/drum/topstories/from-the-archives-winne-khumalo-on-her-health-problems-her-kids-and-new-music-20250108-2 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Drum |language=en-US}} Khumalo continued her prolific output, releasing Woman and Higher and Higher in 2013.
In 2014, Khumalo left Kawala Records, after spending most of her career with the company.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=May 31, 2017 |title=Winnie Khumalo reveals why she left Kalawa Records |url=https://www.snl24.com/drum/news/winnie-khumalo-reveals-why-she-left-kalawa-records-20170728 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Drum |language=en-US}} Khumalo later developed her own record company, WinnKay Music Records & Management, and returned to releasing music. Khumalo was a vocal advocate for progress in the South African music industry, advocating for improvements to the climate for performing artists. She regularly called for greater innovation in the music scene, as well as for more government support, and unity amongst female artists.{{Cite web |title=LISTEN {{!}} Winnie & Rethabile Khumalo talk about 'rife' competitiveness among female stars |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2021-12-21-listen--winnie--rethabile-khumalo-talk-about-rife-competitiveness-among-female-stars/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240821192840/https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2021-12-21-listen--winnie--rethabile-khumalo-talk-about-rife-competitiveness-among-female-stars/ |archive-date=2024-08-21 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=www.timeslive.co.za |language=en}}
In 2019, she released iXesha, translated as "time" in the Xhosa language. The album marked 31 years in the music industry.{{Cite web |last=Notho |first=Snazo |title=WINNIE KHUMALO, 31 YEARS LATER |url=https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/Celebs/winnie-khumalo-31-years-later-20190728 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Daily Sun |language=en-US}} She continued to produce music despite her worsening health, releasing Intliziyo EP and Noluthando in 2021.{{Cite web |last=Dayile |first=Qhama |title=Winnie Khumalo thrilled about daughter Rethabile's engagement |url=https://www.snl24.com/drum/celebs/news/winnie-khumalo-thrilled-about-daughter-rethabiles-engagement-20220127 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Drum |language=en-US}}
= Personal life and death =
Khumalo had two children and lived in Protea Glen, outside of Johannesburg.{{Cite web |last=Kandie |first=Lynn |date=2020-05-02 |title=Top details about Rethabile Khumalo: Her age, family, and career |url=https://briefly.co.za/61647-rethabile-khumalo-bio-age-parents-idols-umlilo-songs-profile.html |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Briefly |language=en}} She had her first child at age 19, a son named Thando Thobela with Dingaan Thobela, a former boxing champion known as “Rose of Soweto”. In 1996, Khumalo gave birth to her daughter Rethabile Khumalo. Rethabile Khumalo followed in her mother's footsteps becoming a singer-songwriter, known mononymously as Rethabile.{{Cite web |last=Notho |first=Snazo |title=From the archves {{!}} 'I wanted to make my mother proud first, then a baby after' - says Rethabile Khumalo |url=https://www.snl24.com/drum/celebs/news/i-wanted-to-make-my-mother-proud-first-then-a-baby-after-says-rethabile-khumalo-20231107-3 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Drum |language=en-US}} Rethabile began singing and performing at age 6, serving as her mother's backing vocalist and dancer.
Khumalo died on 7 January 2025 on the way to the hospital after suffering from a short illness. She was 51.{{Cite news |last=Mphande |first=Joy |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Singer Winnie Khumalo dies |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2025-01-07-singer-winnie-khumalo-dies/ |work=Times Live}} After her death, South Africa's Department of Sports, Arts and Culture released a statement, expressing in part, "Her untimely death marks a great loss for South Africa and the music industry."
References
{{Reflist}}
External Links
- {{discogs artist|Winnie Khumalo}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khumalo, Winnie}}
Category:Musicians from Soweto
Category:South African women pop singers
Category:Xhosa-language singers of South Africa
Category:20th-century South African women singers
Category:21st-century South African women singers