The Voice

                                                                    

Letta Mbulu

Soweto, the birthplace of South African greats, politically and musically, from ages ago to this day Soweto continues to produce the very best. One of Soweto’s great gifts to the world is Letta Mbulu.

"I knew South Africa was going to change; you can't keep people down forever. It's unnatural. Somehow something had to crack, and it did"

uMama Letta Mbulu was born in Soweto Johannesburg in 1942. She was born a natural singer, passionate about the struggles of her people, and comforted by the tunes of the song she sang. Letta was born at the time when Africa was oppressed by the colonization of the west, so it was no amazement that she sang songs that pushed the liberation agenda, and hope.

  

As a teenager, Letta Mbulu started her singing career on a high note, teaming up with a very successful band called king Kong, whom she went on to tour South Africa and England.

The teen star returned to South Arica after the tour, but like most activists at that time, she was forced into exile. She exiled to the United States of America.

uMama Letta continued touring the world and sharing the tunes that told of the hopes struggles and joys of South Africa. While on tour, she met and married fellow South African Musical icon, Caiphus Semeny. Together they went on to produce some remarkable songs.

"I just wanted to sing, and I didn't want my music to be unique to the US. I wanted Africans to hear it and know that South African music was still alive"
Letta Mbulu brought those Sunday after church vibes, songs that spoke about South Africa, of South Africa, and to South Africa, her massage was clear and simple, she wanted the world to know of a different South Africa, the South Africa that was joyful happy and positive regardless of the struggles.

Letta's music was proof that hope and joy can be found even in the darkest of times, She chose to celebrate a joyful hopeful South Africa, at the same time highlighting the injustice of the apartheid government. 

Sunday after Church comes with the lunch with the family and some inspirational songs by 

Letta Mbulu, he music was truly inspirational and still is to this very day, her music traves from your eardrums all the way to your soul, her songs will definitely wake something within you, be it dance or pure bliss for the soul. The is music in the air as released in 1976, this was a song that for me was meant to flood the air, with hope rather than the pains that came with the apartheid regime. 

Letta Mbulu' Not yet Uhuru (Not yet freedom), is a  power jam, released in 1996, three years after South Africa gained its freedom from apartheid. This was a warning song foretelling the struggles that were still among black people regardless of the 1994 event. 

Letta did not only sing about the struggles of South Africa and Africa at large, but she also sang feel goods songs, songs that you dance to, songs that took away the reality of the struggles, songs that gave listeners a break from the harsh reality. Letta brought the stage to its' knees every time she took the mic, and whatever she sang she sang expeditionary. 

This powerhouse did more than sing, she also showed off some acting skills in the movie, the roots and a warm December. 

"I listen a lot to the incredible young artists who are coming through, which is something that just wasn't possible during Apartheid. That's the way I learn"

Letta Mbulu's voice was so strong, she carried the lyrics ad melody extremely well. She would sing the alphabet, and you could easily dance or cry, that is the power she had in her voice. Today her strong powerful voice has continued to inspire many young people across Africa, t not only to be a good voice but a meaningful life-saving voice.

This voice was fearless loud and definitely heard. One of the most important voices in South African Music.