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Quick Facts
Born
1942
1942
From
South Africa
South Africa
Journey
Born in Soweto, South Africa, on August 23, 1942, Letta Mbulu is a celebrated jazz and world music artist whose career spans over six decades. Growing up during apartheid, she began performing as a teenager, notably with the group Swanky Spots and in the original cast of the musical King Kong.
In 1964, as apartheid intensified, Mbulu moved to the United States, joining a community of fellow South African artists in exile, including Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela. This period marked a significant turn in her career as she collaborated with international icons like Cannonball Adderley and Harry Belafonte. Her debut album, Letta Mbulu Sings (1967), helped introduce her to a global audience.
Mbulu's musical style is a rich blend of jazz, soul, and pop, infused with folk and Brazilian influences. Her extensive discography includes “Free Soul” (1968), “Naturally” (1972), and “There's Music in the Air” (1976). She also contributed her distinctive vocals to soundtracks for major films and television series, such as "Roots" (1977), "The Color Purple" (1985), and Michael Jackson's song "Liberian Girl."
After 27 years in exile, Mbulu returned to South Africa in 1991. Her homecoming was marked by a performance at the Unity '91 Festival and the release of her album "Not Yet Uhuru."
Beyond her music, Mbulu is a respected activist. She used her platform to speak out against injustice and was a founding member of the South African Artists United (SAAU), an organization that mobilized artists in the fight against apartheid.
She has received numerous accolades for her contributions to music and activism, including the South African Music Awards (SAMA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001, the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver in 2009, and an honorary doctorate in Music from Nelson Mandela University in 2025.
Mbulu is married to fellow musician Caiphus Semenya, with whom she has collaborated on many projects. Her legacy is so profound that her childhood home in Soweto has been declared a heritage site, a testament to her enduring impact on South African culture.