Sakhile

A collaboration between top-notch South African musicians Sipho Gumede, Mabi Thabejane, and Khaya Mahlangu, Sakhile combined traditional South African music and Miles Davis-influenced jazz fusion. An offshoot of Spirits Rejoice, a group featuring Gumede, Gibson Kente, and Bheki Mseleku, Sakhile suffered from the racial oppression that spread through South Africa following the Soweto killings. Although their early albums found an enthusiastic audience in South Africa's black townships, they were prevented from radio airplay and the group disbanded. Reuniting in 1987, Sakhile successfully reached out to an international following. In 1988 and 1989, they performed, under the music direction of exiled composer Caiphus Semenya, at anti-apartheid concerts in Switzerland, Italy, and the former U.S.S.R. They later served as backing band for South African artists at a Nelson Mandela tribute concert at London's Wembley Stadium. Sakhile disbanded for a second time in 1991.