Mzwakhe mbuli biography of barack

CHANGE IS PAIN was the prophetic title of Mzwakhe Mbuli's first album. Dubbed the "people's poet" his inspirational words resonated over the graves of struggle heroes during the 1980s. Tall and charismatic, the 38-year-old poet was the obvious choice to chant in praise of Nelson Mandela at his presidential inauguration in 1994. With eight albums of oral poetry - six of them gold -to his credit, steady demand for his live performances and active work for charity, Mbuli led a fulfilling life. Everything changed on October 28, 1997, the day he was arrested and charged with armed robbery.

Denied bail because he was seen as a flight risk, Mbuli languished in jail until his trial at Pretoria Magistrate's court began in June 1998. In March the following year he was found guilty and sentenced to 13 years. Mbuli has always protested his innocence, claiming he was framed, but in November last year his appeal to the Pretoria High Court was turned down. Now his last resort is the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. As Focus went to press no date had been set for this hearing.

His fans, of course, remain convinced of his innocence. There is a web site, set up by an American anti-apartheid activist, where you can sign a petition for his release (www.mzwakhe.org). There have been celebrity visitors - the ANC's Ahmed Kathrada, Frank Chikane and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela - but the only one campaigning for his release is Helen Suzman, for many years the only opposition MP in the years of National Party rule and patron of the Foundation that publishes this magazine.

She became involved after Mbuli's London agent alerted her niece, the actress Janet Suzman, to the poet's plight. She visits him regularly in prison. Although sceptical about Mbuli's case at first she says, "after meeting him and attending both court cases I became absolutely convinced of his innocence."

The First National Bank (FNB) in Waverly, Pretoria, was robbe

Mzwakhe Mbuli (born 1 August 1959) is a former Deacon at Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Naledi Soweto South Africa, known as "The People's Poet, Tall man, Mbulism, The Voice Of Reason", is a poet and Mbaqanga singer in South Africa. He was born in Sophiatown and shortly moved after his family was forced to move to Soweto when the government bulldozed his home town. His works include a book of poems, Before Dawn (1989), and albums Change Is Pain (1986), Unbroken Spirit (1989), Resistance Is Defence (1992), and Africa (1993). His poems are mainly in English but draw on his native Zulu as well as traditional praise poetry and rap. His best-known poem is "Change Is Pain," a protest piece about oppression and revolution, which was initially banned until growing pressure forced South Africa to allow more freedom of speech. His first performance group was called Khuvhangano.

Throughout the 1980s, Mbuli was repeatedly detained by the authorities and denied a passport to travel while playing a leading role in the cultural activities of the United Democratic Front. His international career began in 1990 in Berlin, Germany when he shared the stage with Youssou N'dour, Miriam Makeba and Thomas Mapfumo. An imposing figure, standing well over 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, he performed at the funeral of Chris Hani, the assassinated head of the South African Communist Party, and at the presidential inauguration Nelson Mandela in 1994. In 1996 Mbuli was invited to London to co-host, with British poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah, the Two Nations Concert at the Albert Hall to honor President Nelson Mandela on his visit to London . Later in the year, he returned to the UK to join Peter Gabriel, Youssou N'Dour and other prominent African artists to record the fundraising Aids Album.

In 1990, he was profiled in the documentary film Songololo: Voices of Change.

Mbuli was convicted in March 1999 for armed robbery and possession of a hand grenade – crimes he has consistently deni

South African musician and poet

Mzwakhe Mbuli (born 1 August 1959) is a South African poet, Mbaqanga singer and former Deacon at Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Naledi Soweto, South Africa. Known as "The People's Poet, Tall Man, Mbulism, The Voice Of Reason", he is the father of Mzwakhe Mbuli Junior, also known as Robot_Boii.

Early life

He was born in Sophiatown, and shortly moved after his family was forced to move to Soweto when the government bulldozed his home town.

Career

His works include a book of poems, Before Dawn (1989), and albums Change Is Pain (1986), Unbroken Spirit (1989), Resistance Is Defence (1992), and Africa (1993). His poems are mainly in English but draw on his native Zulu as well as traditional praise poetry and rap. His best-known poem is "Change Is Pain," a protest piece about oppression and revolution, which was initially banned until growing pressure forced South Africa to allow more freedom of speech. His first performance group was called Khuvhangano.

Throughout the 1980s, Mbuli was repeatedly detained by the authorities and denied a passport to travel while playing a leading role in the cultural activities of the United Democratic Front. His international career began in 1990 in Berlin, Germany when he shared the stage with Youssou N'dour, Miriam Makeba and Thomas Mapfumo. An imposing figure, standing well over 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, he performed at the funeral of Chris Hani, the assassinated head of the South African Communist Party, and at the presidential inauguration Nelson Mandela in 1994. In 1996 Mbuli was invited to London to co-host, with British poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah, the Two Nations Concert at the Albert Hall to honor President Nelson Mandela on his visit to London. Later in the year, he returned to the UK to join Peter Gabriel, Youssour N'dour and other prominent African artists to record the fundraising Aids Album.^[4&#