Caiphus Semenya

• Name — Caiphus Semenya • Born — 19 August 1939 • Birthplace — Alexandra, Gauteng, Johannesburg, South Africa • Instrument — Saxophone, percussion, synthesizer, vocals • Genre — South African jazz • Occupation — Musician, composer and arranger • Years Active — 1950s–present • Spouse — Letta Mbulu

Caiphus Katse Semenya was born in Johannesburg's Alexandra Township on 19 August 1939 in a musically inclined family. He attended Benoni High School, where he formed his first musical group, the Katzenjammer Kids. Members of the ensemble including Semenya were recruited to the cast of King Kong, an African jazz musical. On the set of King Kong he met his future wife, the singer Letta Mbulu. Semenya left South Africa for the United States in the 1960s, together with his wife. He was spurred to do so by the conditions they faced in apartheid South Africa. In the US he worked with Hugh Masekela and Jonas Gwangwa on the album Union of South Africa, and sang backup for Miriam Makeba. His career as an arranger and composer gradually became more prominent than his singing. He was a member of the team that won recognition for its work on Roots, including an Emmy Award for Music Composition, and on the score of the 1985 film The Color Purple, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score. He arranged music for Letta Mbulu, whose singing career found more success in the US, and for Harry Belafonte, who became a friend and mentor. Semenya also arranged the Swahili chant in the intro to Michael Jackson's song "Liberian Girl" from the 1987 album Bad. Semenya formed a recording label, "Munjale". He returned to South Africa in 1991.

Caiphus Semenya is recorded with the occupation film score composer. Classed in the genre jazz. Recorded as musician, composer and saxophonist.