Trending in Soweto String Quartet’s World
Latest Album
The Essential
Released May 12, 2017
Trending Globally
US
Story
Quick Facts
Born
1989
1989
From
South Africa
South Africa
Journey
The Soweto String Quartet (SSQ), formed in 1989 at the Madimba School of Music in Soweto, is a South African ensemble celebrated for merging classical string mastery with African rhythms and township jazz. Original members Sandile Khemese (violin), Thami Khemese (violin), Makhosini Mnguni (viola), and Reuben Khemese (cello) created a sound that fuses the precision of classical training with the danceable grooves of Kwela, Mbaqanga, African jazz, and gospel. Their music also embraces pop, covering artists like Paul Simon and Sting.
SSQ rose to global prominence performing at Nelson Mandela’s 1994 inauguration, earning international acclaim and becoming cultural ambassadors for the “New South Africa.” Their multi-platinum debut "Zebra Crossing" (1994) and follow-up albums "Renaissance" (1996) and "Millennia" (1998) brought hits like “Kwela,” “Imbube,” and “Weeping” (featuring Vusi Mahlasela) to audiences worldwide. Over decades, the quartet has sustained its reputation as a pioneering ensemble that bridges heritage, classical technique, and contemporary appeal.