Black South African urban music since the 1890's: some reminiscences of Alfred Assegai Kumalo (1879-1966)

Abstract

The main body of this article deals with personal reminiscences and anecdotes many of them relating to music — recounted to me by the renowned Zulu musician, choir-master and composer, the late Mr A. A. Kumalo during two tape-recorded interviews in Edendale, Natal in 1964. This was some two years before he suffered a stroke (in July 1966) from which he never fully recovered. He died peacefully at his home on 9 December 1966, aged 87.