Jabu Khanyile, South African Singer
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South African musician Jabu Khanyile, known for performing his tribally-inflected tunes while dressed in a Masai costume, died Saturday in Johannesburg hospital.
The Soweto-born musician was known for his jazz-flavored work with the popular band Bayete. He was the lead vocalist for the band for many years before producing his first album, “The Prince,” in 1999.
He joined the band in the early 1990s as a drummer, but soon became lead singer on such hits as “Mbube and Mbombela,” a cover of a Miriam Makeba song. The band featured a dominant brass section, and its songs spoke out about harsh economic realities.
Khanyile’s trademark was the royal East African fly whisk he always carried and his colorful Masai costume and headband.
He was a strong defender of African music on the international stage and played with other great musicians from the continent such as Youssou N’Dour and Papa Wemba.
