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Quick Facts
From
South Africa
South Africa
Journey
Long before formal recognition, Fortune Xaba was already building his craft through street performances, using public spaces as his stage. Born in Esikhawini, near Empangeni, he began playing saxophone at the age of 14, drawing early inspiration from his uncle, GTX Gologo Themba Xaba, an established musician whose influence helped guide his direction.
One of the defining moments in his early journey came while he was busking under a bridge near the Workshop area in Durban. It was there that he was discovered by playwright and producer Mbongeni Ngema, who offered him an opportunity to audition for his stage production Magic. After successfully passing the audition, he joined the production and toured Europe with the group in 1995, marking his first major step into the professional space.
That same period saw the release of "Happy Moments" (1995), which followed his debut album Fortune. The debut had already achieved notable success, selling over 30,000 copies, establishing him as a promising name in South African jazz. His growing reputation was further solidified in 1996 when he won the Shell Road to Fame competition at Sun City, a platform that came with both a recording deal and international exposure.
Over time, he collaborated with a range of South African artists, including Mthunzi Namba, Lindelani Mkhize, and Vicky Vilakazi, showing his ability to move across different musical spaces while staying grounded in jazz.
He passed away in 2003. His contribution to South African jazz continues to be remembered, with some drawing comparisons between his playing style and that of David Sanborn.