Madala Kunene
Affectionately known as "Bafo", Madala Kunene (born 17 April 1951) is a South African musician born in Kwa-Mashu, near Durban. Kunene started busking on Durban’s beach-front at the age of 7, making his first guitar out of a cooking oil tin and fish gut for the strings, soon becoming a popular performer in the townships.
Madala Kunene
Bhaktiballs · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Madala Kunene
- Born
- 17 April 1951
- Occupation
- Record producer, singer, guitarist
- Nationality
- South Africa
- Fields
- jazz fusion
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Affectionately known as "Bafo", Madala Kunene (born 17 April 1951) is a South African musician born in Kwa-Mashu, near Durban. Kunene started busking on Durban’s beach-front at the age of 7, making his first guitar out of a cooking oil tin and fish gut for the strings, soon becoming a popular performer in the townships.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Madala Kunene. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- unresolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q19661508 · wikipedia · Madala Kunene
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Madala Kunene • Born — 17 April 1951 • Genre — Jazz fusion, world • Occupation — Record producer, singer, guitarist • Years Active — 1970–present
Biography
Biography
Madala Kunene has recorded and collaborated with a host of artists namely Guy Buttery, Max Lässer, Debashish Bhattacharya, Steve Newman, Zawadi Yamungu, Mthuthu Ndebele, Baba Mokoena Serakong, Busi Mhlongo, Mabi Thobejane, The Forest Jam Band, Matthias Abaecherli, Carlo Menet, Jose Neto, Themba Mokoena, Changuito,Syd Kitchen, Madosini, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim and many others.
Discography
• Madala Kunene (1990) • Outernational Meltdown – Healers Brew Compilation (1995) • Outernational Meltdown – Free At Last Compilation (1995) • King Of The Zulu Guitar Live Vol. 1 (1995) • Kon'Ko Man (1996) • Outernational Meltdown / Madala – Music With No Name (12") (1996) • Freedom Countdown – Compilation (1996) • Madala Kunene & Max Lässer – Madamax (1998) • Oppikoppi – Bushveld Blast Live '98 – Various Artists Compilation (1998) • Madala Kunene & Bernard Mndaweni – Uxolo (2005) • Madala Kunene & Syd Kitchen – Bafo Bafo (2005) • African Classics - King Of The Zulu Guitar – Compilation (2008) • Madala Kunene & Baba Mokoena Serakoeng – First Double 1 & 2 • 1959 (2015) • Khaya Records 7" Series Vol. III – with Guy Buttery (2017) • Madala Kunene & Forest Jam - bafo The Mentor (2018) • Madala Kunene & Themba Mokoena – Durban Poison - At Last! (2019) • Madal KuneneLive & Mabi Gabriel Thobejane - Live @ 2018 NAF Grahamstown (2023) • Konko Man Version2 - Live at Westville Theatre Club - with Guy Buttery (2023) • Madala Kunene - Remixes 2023 Episode One (Remixers Syost, Black Motion, Deeper Kings,3Rio Symphony, OddXperienc, Guy Buttery) • Madala Kunene - Remixes 2023 Episode Two (Remixer Zee Da Pro feat Hugh Masekela) • Madala Kunene & Sibusile Xaba - kwaNTU 2025
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 21 September 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,438 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Mad DecentOrganisation
- Mad LionPerson
- Mad ProfessorPerson
- Madagascar SlimPerson
- Mădălina ManolePerson
- Madam AnahitPerson
- Madame RavissaPerson
- Madan MohanPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Madala Kunene?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.