Allen Kwela

South African kwela and jazz guitarist

Allen Kwela (September 10, 1936^[1] in Chesterville, Durban – July 1, 2003) was a kwela and jazz guitarist from South Africa. He was raised around Durban where he herded cattle and learned music after making a tin guitar. He began in Kwela with Spokes Mashiyane, but later branched into jazz. His 2002 work The Broken Strings of Allen Kwela received award nominations for jazz.^[2] He has been said to have become a "revered figure" and "legendary" in South African jazz.^[3] He died in Johannesburg on 30 June 2003 and left a wife and four children.^[4]

References

^ "Allen Kwela was born on this day". Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
^ Mojapelo, Max (2008). Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. pp. 257–. ISBN 978-1-920299-28-6.
^ Mpye, Siphiwe (4 July 2003). "Top SA muso dies in freak Joburg car crash". Independent Online. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 9 August 2003. pp. 89–. ISSN 0006-2510.