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Steve Kekana
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Key Information
Tebogo Steve Kekana (4 August 1958 – 1 July 2021)[1] was a South African singer and songwriter. He began his musical career in the 1980s. He attended and completed his studies at UNISA.[2]
Life and career
[edit]Kekana was born in Zebediela, Transvaal. He lost his sight at the age of five, and attended a school for the blind in Pietersburg. During his school years, he developed a love for singing, and became a member of amateur groups during the teenage years.
In 1979 and 1980, Kekana won what was then known as the SABC Black Music Award for best male vocalist. Kekana's "Raising My Family" was a big hit in Europe in 1980. In total, Kekana had recorded more than forty albums.[3] His songs "The Bushman" and "Feel So Strong" (featuring Hotline) were hits on the Springbok Radio Chart (the semi-official South African chart of the time) reaching number 13 and number 6 in 1982 and 1983 respectively.[4]
He worked with the likes of Ray Phiri, Nana Coyote, Joe Nina and Hotline featuring PJ Thandeka Powers.
Steve Kekana was a university graduate with B Juris and LLB degrees. He was an Advocate and a lecturer in Labour Law at the University of South Africa.
Kekana died from COVID-19-related complications on 1 July 2021, at the age of 62.
Awards and honours
[edit]| Period | Honour / Award |
|---|---|
| 1978-2021 | Received more than 70 Golden Disc Awards |
| 1980 | The Best Male Vocalist Award (Radio Zulu) |
| 1984 | The Four Outstanding Young South African (FOYSA) Award[5] |
| 1985 | The Ten Outstanding Young People of the World (TOYP) Award |
| 1986 | The OKTV award |
| 2010 | Mama Bheka Community Awards |
| 2018 | SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award (SAMA 24) |
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Year | Title | Label (original issue) |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Steve Kekana | His Master's Voice |
| 1979 | Nomsa Ntombi Yami | His Master's Voice |
| 1979 | Mokhotse Oa Hao | EMI |
| 1980 | Umenziwa Akakhalelwa | EMI |
| 1980 | Iphupho | EMI |
| 1980 | Thapelo | EMI |
| 1981 | Isiko Lwabe Suthu | Bullet |
| 1981 | Raising My Family | EMI |
| 1981 | Kodua Ea Maseru | EMI |
| 1982 | Ifuqe Mntanami (Push) | Steve Kekana |
| 1982 | No Going Back | CCP Record Company |
| 1982 | Hare Khumameng | Gallo Record Company |
| 1982 | Amandla Amasha | Gallo Record Company |
| 1983 | Alone in The Desert | Steve Records |
| 1984 | Yintle Lento | Steve Records |
| 1985 | Third Time Lucky | CBS / Steve Records |
| 1986 | Ngiyadlisa | Steve Kekana |
| 1985 | Siwelele | Gallo Record Company |
| 1986 | Love Triangle | Steve Kekana |
| 1986 | Bull Dozer | Steve Kekana |
| 1987 | Sebabatso | Steve Kekana |
| 1987 | Lindani | Gallo Record Company |
| 1988 | Makhombo | Steve Kekana |
| 1988 | I Shall Be Released | EMI |
| 1989 | Faith, Love and Respect | EMI |
| 1996 | Usafira | Cool Spot Productions |
| 2001 | Icilongo | Cool Spot Music |
| 2003 | African Lady | Sony Music |
| 2009 | Ha Ke Le Tje | EMI / CCP Record Company |
| 2009 | Isithombe Sami | EMI / CCP Record Company |
| 2014 | Risen | Next Music |
| 2018 | Ubuntu | Sold Out Music |
Compilations
[edit]| Year | Title | Label (original issue) |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Golden Hits Vol 1 | Cool Spot Music |
| 1997 | Golden Hits Vol 2 | Cool Spot Music |
| 1999 | The English Album | Gallo Record Company |
| 1999 | The Best of Steve Kekana (Sotho) | EMI |
| 2002 | The Best of Steve Kekana (Zulu) | EMI |
| 2011 | SA Great Performers | Gallo Record Company |
| 2015 | Greatest Moments | Gallo Record Company |
| 2013 | Colours of Africa | Gallo Record Company |
Singles and EPs
[edit]| Year | Title | Label (original issue) |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Mamsy / Bolova | His Master's Voice[6] |
| 1978 | Rosemary / Sweet Jane | His Master's Voice[7] |
| 1978 | Themba | His Master's Voice |
| 1979 | Nomsa Ntombi Yami | His Master's Voice |
| 1979 | Aka Zenzanga (U Mary) / Uqhoka Amasudi | His Master's Voice[8] |
Biography
[edit]- By Sydney Fetsie Maluleke (2019); Foreword by Max Mojapelo Steve Kekana: The I In Me, Protea Book House ISBN 978-0-639-81470-4[9][10]
References
[edit]- ^ Emmanuel Tjiya (1 July 2021). "Breaking: Legendary musician Steve Kekana has died". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Mojapelo, Max (18 March 2009). Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-920299-28-6. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "www.music.org.za". Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ "www.rock.co.za". Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ^ Mojapelo, Max (1 July 2008). Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. ISBN 9781920299286 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Mamsy / Bolovai". Discogs. Discogs.com. 1978. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Rosemary / Sweet Janei". Discogs. Discogs.com. 1978. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Aka Zenzanga (U Mary) / Uqhoka Amasudi". Discogs. Discogs.com. 1979. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Steve Kekana: The I In Me (Paperback): Sydney Fetsie Maluleke: 9780639814704 | Books | Buy online in South Africa from". Loot.co.za. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ "Steve Kekana: The I In Me (Paperback)". BookHub. 25 November 2019.
External links
[edit]- The melody of freedom | South African History Online
- Steve Kekana to receive SAMA24 lifetime achievement award
- Steve Kekana at AllMusic
- Steve Kekana discography at Discogs
- Disabled government official becomes a joint winner of South African Music Awards (SAMA) | South African Government
- #SAMA 24 to honour Spokes H, Steve Kekana, Mbongeni Ngema
- Steve Kekana
- Steve Kekana on Apple Music
- Steve Kekana
- Steve Kekana performing at the 702 Concert in the Park in 1985
- Galaxy of Stars: Steve Kekana with Mafikizolo
- Putting Popular Music in Its Place
- swedishcharts.com - Hotline with P. J. Powers and Steve Kekana - Feel So Strong
- swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal
- Steve Kekana - I Shall Be Released
- Advocate Steve Kekana Takes Over the Reins at JHB Society for the Blind
Steve Kekana
View on GrokipediaEarly Life
Childhood and Onset of Blindness
Tebogo Steve Kekana was born on August 4, 1958, in Bolahlakgomo village in the Zebediela district of Limpopo Province, South Africa, into a rural family led by a single mother and including four siblings.[4][5] Raised in a context of limited resources typical of black rural communities under apartheid-era constraints, Kekana engaged in traditional childhood tasks such as herding cattle.[5] At age five, Kekana lost his sight to glaucoma, a condition involving progressive damage to the optic nerve often resulting from untreated intraocular pressure, which went unaddressed amid inadequate healthcare access in remote areas.[5] This onset marked a pivotal shift, yet Kekana adapted through innate determination, relying on heightened auditory and tactile senses to navigate his environment without succumbing to dependency.[5] During this formative period, Kekana displayed an early affinity for music, particularly the guitar, amid local rural traditions that emphasized oral and instrumental expression.[6] His self-reliance in overcoming blindness underscored a pragmatic focus on capability over limitation, setting the stage for later pursuits without reliance on narratives of systemic victimhood.[5]Education and Formative Years
Kekana lost his eyesight at the age of five due to glaucoma, prompting his enrollment in a specialized institution for the visually impaired.[5] Born in the rural Zebediela area of Limpopo Province, he was sent to Siloe School for the Blind at Chuenespoort near Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg), where he received education adapted to his condition.[5] [7] There, Kekana demonstrated academic aptitude, mastering skills essential for independence amid the challenges of visual impairment during the apartheid era, without modern accommodations like widespread affirmative action programs.[5] Transitioning to higher education, Kekana enrolled at Tshwane University of Technology, where he earned B Juris and LLB degrees, reflecting a deliberate pursuit of legal expertise as an initial career aspiration separate from his emerging musical interests.[8] This achievement underscored his personal determination and disciplined self-reliance, as he navigated rigorous studies while blind, prioritizing professional qualifications in law to foster autonomy rather than dependency.[9] His formative years in the 1970s, amid South Africa's evolving pop and traditional music landscape, exposed him to diverse sounds, yet his educational path emphasized intellectual rigor and non-musical self-sufficiency.[1]Musical Career
Beginnings in the Late 1970s
Kekana entered the music scene through grassroots performances, joining amateur groups as a teenager before aligning with the band The Hunter in 1974. While performing with this ensemble, he attracted the attention of talent scout Tom Vuma, who recognized his vocal abilities and facilitated his professional recording debut.[10] Vuma produced and composed most tracks for Kekana's self-titled debut album, released in 1977 on the His Master's Voice label, establishing him as an independent songwriter and performer in South Africa's mbaqanga and soul styles.[10] [11] Amid apartheid-era segregation in the recording and broadcasting industries, black artists encountered structural barriers, including SABC policies confining their airplay primarily to dedicated black services like Radio Bantu, with minimal crossover to white-oriented stations.[12] Kekana navigated these constraints via personal networking and persistent local gigs, relying on raw talent to cultivate an initial following rather than institutional quotas or interventions.[10] His efforts yielded early recognition with the SABC Black Music Award for best male vocalist in 1979, affirming his vocal prowess and songwriting within black music circuits.[11] This accolade, based on performances and recordings from his debut phase, underscored the viability of talent-driven ascent in a divided market.[11]Rise to Prominence in the 1980s
Kekana's breakthrough in the 1980s came through hit singles that achieved rare crossover airplay on Springbok Radio, a station primarily serving white South African audiences under apartheid restrictions. Tracks such as "Raising My Family" (1981) gained international traction, particularly in Europe, while "The Bushman" (1982) peaked at number 13 on the station's Top 20 chart, highlighting his appeal beyond township circuits.[13][14] "Take Your Love," a duet with Nana Coyote, further cemented his domestic popularity as a relationship anthem.[15] These successes reflected Kekana's pop-oriented songwriting, which prioritized melodic accessibility over overt political messaging, enabling broader radio penetration in a segregated media landscape.[16] Throughout the decade, Kekana released multiple albums blending pop structures with gospel influences and traditional African rhythms, fostering commercial viability through robust sales and sustained play in competitive markets. Key releases included Iphupho (1980), Yinhle Lento (1984), and Third Time Lucky (1985), which featured versatile instrumentation and self-penned lyrics emphasizing personal resilience.[17][18] His output contributed to a career total exceeding 20 albums, with live performances—marked by energetic stage presence despite blindness—driving fan engagement and repeat airings.[18] This era's achievements underscored Kekana's merit-based rise, rooted in prolific composition rather than reliance on state patronage or external aid.[16]Later Career and Genre Evolution
In the post-apartheid era, Steve Kekana sustained a prolific output, releasing albums that blended enduring mbaqanga rhythms with emerging gospel elements, reflecting a pivot toward themes of personal faith and resilience rather than overt political messaging.[16][19] His 2001 album Icilongo maintained mbaqanga's upbeat township grooves while incorporating soulful introspection, followed by Ntombi Yami in 2008, which emphasized romantic and spiritual narratives suited to a democratized market.[19] By 2009, Ha Kele Je and Isithombe Sami highlighted this evolution, with gospel-infused tracks underscoring Kekana's Christian convictions amid South Africa's cultural shifts.[20][19] Kekana's genre adaptations were driven by audience demand and his independent ethos, as evidenced by continued releases without evident reliance on state patronage, prioritizing fan loyalty in a competitive post-1994 landscape.[6] Albums like Risen (2014) explicitly embraced gospel structures, featuring uplifting choral arrangements and faith-centered lyrics that contrasted with his earlier bubblegum pop eras, while retaining mbaqanga's percussive vitality for live appeal.[19][16] His final major release, Ubuntu in 2018, synthesized these influences into harmonious calls for communal harmony, produced amid health challenges that curtailed but did not end his stage presence.[19][21] Performances in the 2000s and 2010s, often at cultural festivals and community events, underscored Kekana's adaptability, drawing multigenerational crowds through collaborations that preserved mbaqanga's danceable essence while introducing gospel's redemptive tone, ensuring commercial viability via private sector channels and dedicated followings rather than subsidized circuits.[22] This phase affirmed his career longevity, with over 20 albums post-1990 demonstrating market responsiveness over ideological conformity.[20][6]Professional Pursuits Beyond Music
Legal Qualifications and Practice
Kekana earned a B Juris degree from Tshwane University of Technology, completing the program in three years, and subsequently obtained an LLB in 1999.[5][9] His LLB dissertation examined copyright law infringement in South Africa.[5] Having lost his sight at age five to glaucoma and received education at a school for the blind, Kekana demonstrated resolve in mastering legal studies without reliance on visual aids beyond adaptive training from institutions like the Itireleng Blind Institution.[5] Upon qualification, he became an advocate, engaging in legal practice that paralleled his professional music commitments and underscored his capacity for multidisciplinary excellence irrespective of disability.[4] Kekana leveraged his legal knowledge pragmatically in the entertainment sector, delivering workshops on music business operations and artists' rights to mitigate exploitation through informed handling of contracts, copyrights, and royalties.[5] He also held academic positions, including lecturing in Labour Law at the University of South Africa and earlier teaching law at universities during the 1980s, further evidencing professional competence in legal application and instruction.[4][5]Advocacy Work and Public Roles
Kekana served as a council member of the National Arts Council of South Africa, appointed by Minister Nathi Mthethwa, where he contributed to the transformation and development of the arts sector, including acting as an adjudicator for relief funding provisions.[4][23] His involvement emphasized enabling access to arts opportunities through structured support mechanisms rather than unmerited allocations. As a founding member of the Southern African Disabled Musicians’ Association, Kekana leveraged his legal expertise to help draft its constitution, positioning himself as a role model who motivated disabled artists to pursue excellence independently.[24] In this capacity, he advocated for the rights of people with disabilities by demonstrating that physical limitations need not preclude professional achievement or societal contribution, countering narratives of inherent victimhood. Kekana's public advocacy centered on reframing disability as a catalyst for personal agency and self-reinvention, asserting that it enables defiance against underestimation and biases. He articulated this by stating, “A disability is a tool for self-reinvention and defiance to stereotypes, biases, and underestimation,” and prioritized internal drive over physical ability, noting, “I would rather have vision without sight” and “Having a disability means taking space and contributing to the development of society.” This perspective promoted individual effort and merit-driven success in South Africa's post-apartheid environment, where dependency on state provisions often dominates disability discourse. In recognition of his exemplary life as an advocate and inspirer for those with disabilities, the University of South Africa conferred upon him an honorary doctorate in philosophy on 13 November 2020.Awards and Achievements
Key Music Awards
Kekana won the SABC Black Music Award for Best Male Vocalist in 1979 and 1980, accolades that highlighted his vocal talent amid competition from other South African artists in the mbaqanga and pop genres.[25][26] In 2018, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th South African Music Awards (SAMA), presented to recognize his enduring impact on the industry spanning over four decades.[27][2]Commercial Success and Recognitions
Steve Kekana garnered substantial commercial success in South Africa's music market, earning over 70 gold disc awards for his recordings, a certification denoting strong sales volumes that exceeded industry thresholds for the era.[28] These accolades, accumulated across decades of releases, underscored consistent consumer demand and profitability, particularly for his mbaqanga-influenced albums and singles that resonated in urban and township audiences during the 1980s and beyond.[28] His chart performance further evidenced market impact, with singles like "The Bushman" and "Feel So Strong" (featuring Hotline) achieving notable positions on the Springbok Radio Chart, reflecting widespread radio play and purchase-driven popularity in a pre-digital sales landscape.[29] Kekana's sustained output—spanning more than 20 albums since the early 1980s—demonstrated longevity in generating revenue, as his versatile genre shifts maintained relevance without reliance on fleeting trends.[30]Discography
Studio Albums
Kekana's debut studio album, the self-titled Steve Kekana, was released in 1977 and marked his entry into recording with a focus on blending pop sensibilities with South African traditional influences.[10][31] His early 1980s output included Iphupho in 1980, exploring themes of aspiration and cultural roots.[20] This was followed by Ifuque Mntanami (1982), Alone in the Desert (1983), Yinhle Lento (1984), and Third Time Lucky (1985), the latter incorporating tracks like "Take Your Love" amid consistent stylistic fusion of pop and indigenous rhythms.[32][21] Later studio albums extended this approach into the 1990s and beyond, with releases such as Sebabatso (1987), Umenziwa Akakhohlwa (1989), The English Album (2000), Icilongo (2001), Ha Kele Je (2009), Risen (2014), and Ubuntu (2018).[32][21]| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| Steve Kekana | 1977 |
| Iphupho | 1980 |
| Ifuque Mntanami | 1982 |
| Alone in the Desert | 1983 |
| Yinhle Lento | 1984 |
| Third Time Lucky | 1985 |
| Sebabatso | 1987 |
| Umenziwa Akakhohlwa | 1989 |
| The English Album | 2000 |
| Icilongo | 2001 |
| Ha Kele Je | 2009 |
| Risen | 2014 |
| Ubuntu | 2018 |
