Life and career[edit]

Khanyile was born in Soweto, and was forced to abandon his education at the age of fourteen in order to earn a living, after his mother died.^[2][3] His father was a miner and performed a capella songs in the isicathamiya style. His brother John played in a reggae and soul covers band.^[2] Jabu followed them into music, first joining a local band called The Daffodils, and in 1974 joined John's band The Editions as a drummer, later becoming the group's vocalist.^[2] In 1977 he moved on to The Movers, and by 1984 Khanyile had joined Bayete as drummer, a band that combined Afro-jazz and reggae. Bayete split up in 1992, and Khanyile embarked on a solo career, with releases credited to Jabu Khanyile & Bayete, although none of the original members of Bayete were involved by this time.^[1] Khanyile became known internationally in 1996 after an appearance at the Royal Gala evening in honour of Nelson Mandela.^[2]


In 1996 and 2000 he won the Kora award for best Southern African artist. He performed internationally with Youssou N'Dour, Angelique Kidjo and Papa Wemba.^[2] He was known for his Pan-Africanist approach to music, attempting to unite different African styles.^[4] He generally performed in a Zulu costume carrying a trademark fly-whisk, an African symbol of royalty.


Khanyile performed at the Live 8 concert in Johannesburg in July 2005.^[1] His final public appearance was in July 2006 at the "Africa Calling" handover ceremony at the end of the World Cup in Berlin.^[1]


He died in November 2006 after a battle with diabetes and prostate cancer.^[5]