Condry Ziqubu

Born in 1951 and raised in Alexandra township (north of Johannesburg), young Condry learned the guitar from his older brother and went on to play in groups such as The Anchors, Flaming Souls, and Flaming Ghettoes. After his son's unexplained death in 1980, he accelerated his initiation as a "Sangoma" (spiritual healer) and (after slaughering a cow to appease the ancestors) joined the famous Harari in 1981. Following the break-up of Harari he assembled a backing band for exiled artists such as Letta Mbulu and Caiphus Semenya and toured with Harry Belafonte. His extensive travels even earned him a spot on the apartheid government's national security watchlist. The late 1980's saw Mr. Ziqubu launch a successful solo career.