Meet Mbuso Khoza

Mbuso Khoza is a globally celebrated South African musician, cultural preservationist, and scholar whose artistry transcends the boundaries of music to become a mission of memory, identity, and transformation. With a voice described as both ancestral and avant-garde, Khoza is revered for reawakening indigenous Zulu music and wisdom traditions—particularly the sacred form of amahubo—in a rapidly modernizing world.

Born on 20 July 1978 in Eshowe, the heart of Zululand, Khoza’s early life was steeped in oral traditions, sacred rituals, and choral expression. After relocating to Johannesburg in 2000, he began his career as a backing vocalist, but it was his 2010 debut album Zilindile that announced his singular talent to the world—earning the Metro FM Award for Best Jazz Album in 2013 and igniting a lifelong quest to blend Afro-jazz, isicathamiya, and Zulu folk into something both timeless and new.

His subsequent albums, including Ifa Lomkhono (2023), showcase a bold reimagining of ancestral music, guided by deep scholarship and spiritual depth. Collaborating with jazz greats like Nduduzo Makhathini, Black Coffee, Black Motion, and Mike del Ferro, Khoza has created a sonic language that honours the past while resonating with global audiences.

Mbuso Khoza is not merely a musician—he is a vessel for the collective memory of his people. His international performances across France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Senegal, Switzerland, and Burkina Faso, as well as landmark South African venues, have earned him acclaim as a cultural envoy and spiritual storyteller.

In 2025, he was selected by the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to perform sacred amahubo at the official coronation of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, a ceremonial role reserved for the most trusted custodians of Zulu tradition.

Khoza’s influence extends into film and television, where he brings historical narratives to life. He stars as Maphalala in Mzansi Magic’s Umkhokha: The Curse, and contributed musically to MultiChoice’s epic Shaka iLembe (2023). His voice has become synonymous with a resurgence of pride in African identity on screen.

Armed with a Master’s in Arts Heritage from the University of the Witwatersrand, Khoza’s work is deeply informed by academic rigour. He lectures on Zulu music and indigenous knowledge systems at leading institutions and founded the Afrikan Heritage Ensemble—a
collective dedicated to research, performance, and mentorship rooted in traditional African thought.

He is currently developing the Mbuso Khoza Institute for Heritage and Cultural Studies in Johannesburg, envisioned as a living archive where future generations can learn, question, and connect with their origins.

Through his weekly features on Ukhozi FM and podcast Ikhosomba Lezincithabuchopho, Khoza shares philosophical insights and sacred songs, keeping indigenous knowledge alive in contemporary media. A survivor of depression and a vocal mental health advocate, he credits his daughter, Alinde, with helping him find light during his darkest hours.

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Milestones & Achievements

In recognition of Mbuso’s achievements: