Bongani Vivian Ngubane was born in 1948. While his fellow musicians nicknamed him uMkhize o mgcane because he was very short and skinny, he was a dangerous virtuoso rhythm guitarist. Ngubani, who was a migrant from KwaZulu-Natal, grew up in Meadowlands Zone 1. He took over Reggie Msomi’s role as producer at Gallo’s Mavuthela Music and was later recruited by EMI. He features on Makgona Tsohle and in West Nkosi recordings, including Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens. Ngubane became a popular and highly sought-after rhythm guitarist during the 1960s. He was known for his excellence in chord substitutions.
References:
Monama, Billy. 2020. Interview with Lucky Monama, 19 February. Introduction To South African Guitar Styles Vol.1
Monama, Billy. 2020. Interview with Lulu Masilela, 19 February. Introduction To South African Guitar Styles Vol.1
Monama, Billy. 2020. Interview with Joseph Makwela, 18 March. Introduction To South African Guitar Styles Vol.1
Staff reporters. 2008. ‘When boss leaves the workshop’, The Mail & Guardian, 27 November.
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