Born in 1939 with his roots in rural Kawzulu-Natal, Allen Kwela began his career as a collaborator of Spokes Mashiyane, playing the iconic pennywhistle-based kwela style that was his namesake. He evolved into a South African jazz bandleader and composer in the 1970s, releasing Allen's Soul Bag at the helm of the Allen Kwela Octet in 1972. Issued on the maverick Soweto label, Black Beauty followed in 1975 with a set that blends township grooves with jazz-rock influences and features Kippie Moeketsi on saxophone. Kwela enjoyed an enduring career as a teacher, session player and solo artist through the 1990s until his death from an asthma attack in 2003. In the esteemed company of the likes of Themba Mokoena, Enoch Mthalane and Sandile Shange, he is remembered as one of the legendary South African jazz guitarists of his generation.
