Phuzekhemisi

Upon hearing South African vocalist and songwriter Phuzekhemisi—born Johnston Zibakwakhe Mnyandu—Barbados-born Trevor Payne, founder and director of the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir, immediately conceived a collaboration between his ensemble and Phuzekhemisi together with his accompanying musicians. The resulting concert at St. James United Church in Montreal was captured and issued as the album Jubilation VII: Hamba Ekhaya.

Phuzekhemisi already possessed deep musical roots. Performing earlier as John Bhengu, he had established a reputation during the 1950s as a finger-style acoustic guitarist on the streets of Durban and Johannesburg. In the late ’60s he adopted his present name, moved to electric guitar, and continued shaping the Zulu-traditional genre known as maskandi.

A native of the small South African village of Maskanda, Phuzekhemisi launched his career soon after settling in Johannesburg. After developing a street-musician following, he received guidance from Welcome Bhodloza Nzimande, station manager of Ukhozi FM (formerly Radio Zulu). Nzimande’s support helped him obtain a recording contract in the early ’60s. His debut album, Imbizio, blending traditional maskandi with township jive, sold more than 100,000 copies and earned double-platinum status.