Steve Kekana
Tebogo Steve Kekana (4 August 1958 – 1 July 2021) was a South African singer and songwriter. He began his musical career in the 1980s. He attended and completed his studies at UNISA.
Also recorded as Tebogo Steve Kekana
Steve Kekana
- Name
- Steve Kekana
- Birth Name
- Tebogo Steve Kekana
- Born
- 4 August 1958
- Birthplace
- Zebediela, Transvaal, South Africa
- Died
- 1 July 2021
- Place of death
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Occupation
- Singer-songwriter
- Nationality
- South Africa.
- Fields
- soul.
- Languages
- English.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Tebogo Steve Kekana (4 August 1958 – 1 July 2021) was a South African singer and songwriter. He began his musical career in the 1980s. He attended and completed his studies at UNISA.
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Note VALÉORINE
Steve Kekana (1958–2021) was a composer, jurist and musician, among other activities, of South African nationality. The composer was born in Zebediela and died in Polokwane Provincial Hospital.
The work spans soul. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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Authority files
wikidata · Q5905042 · wikipedia · Steve Kekana
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Steve Kekana • Birth Name — Tebogo Steve Kekana • Born — 4 August 1958 • Birthplace — Zebediela, Transvaal, South Africa • Died — 1 July 2021 • Place of death — Johannesburg, South Africa • Origin — Zebediela, Transvaal, South Africa • Instrument — Vocals • Genre — Mbaqanga, Soul, Pop, R&B, Jazz • Occupation — Singer-songwriter • Years Active — 19772021 • Label — Impangela Music
Life and career
Life and career
Kekana was born in Zebediela, Transvaal. He lost his sight at the age of five, and attended a school for the blind in Pietersburg. During his school years, he developed a love for singing, and became a member of amateur groups during the teenage years. In 1979 and 1980, Kekana won what was then known as the SABC Black Music Award for best male vocalist. Kekana's "Raising My Family" was a big hit in Europe in 1980. In total, Kekana had recorded more than forty albums. His songs "The Bushman" and "Feel So Strong" (featuring Hotline) were hits on the Springbok Radio Chart (the semi-official South African chart of the time) reaching number 13 and number 6 in 1982 and 1983 respectively. He worked with the likes of Ray Phiri, Nana Coyote, Joe Nina and Hotline featuring PJ Thandeka Powers. Steve Kekana was a university graduate with B Juris and LLB degrees. He was an Advocate and a lecturer in Labour Law at the University of South Africa. Kekana died from COVID-19-related complications on 1 July 2021, at the age of 62.
Albums
Albums
• Year — Title — Label (original issue) • 1977 — Steve Kekana — His Master's Voice • 1979 — Nomsa Ntombi Yami — His Master's Voice • 1979 — Mokhotse Oa Hao — EMI • 1980 — Umenziwa Akakhalelwa — EMI • 1980 — Iphupho — EMI • 1980 — Thapelo — EMI • 1981 — Isiko Lwabe Suthu — Bullet • 1981 — Raising My Family — EMI • 1981 — Kodua Ea Maseru — EMI • 1982 — Ifuqe Mntanami (Push) — Steve Kekana • 1982 — No Going Back — CCP Record Company • 1982 — Hare Khumameng — Gallo Record Company • 1982 — Amandla Amasha — Gallo Record Company • 1983 — Alone in The Desert — Steve Records • 1984 — Yintle Lento — Steve Records • 1985 — Third Time Lucky — CBS / Steve Records • 1986 — Ngiyadlisa — Steve Kekana • 1985 — Siwelele — Gallo Record Company • 1986 — Love Triangle — Steve Kekana • 1986 — Bull Dozer — Steve Kekana • 1987 — Sebabatso — Steve Kekana • 1987 — Lindani — Gallo Record Company • 1988 — Makhombo — Steve Kekana • 1988 — I Shall Be Released — EMI • 1989 — Faith, Love and Respect — EMI • 1996 — Usafira — Cool Spot Productions • 2001 — Icilongo — Cool Spot Music • 2003 — African Lady — Sony Music • 2009 — Ha Ke Le Tje — EMI / CCP Record Company • 2009 — Isithombe Sami — EMI / CCP Record Company • 2014 — Risen — Next Music • 2018 — Ubuntu — Sold Out Music
Compilations
Compilations
• Year — Title — Label (original issue) • 1997 — Golden Hits Vol 1 — Cool Spot Music • 1997 — Golden Hits Vol 2 — Cool Spot Music • 1999 — The English Album — Gallo Record Company • 1999 — The Best of Steve Kekana (Sotho) — EMI • 2002 — The Best of Steve Kekana (Zulu) — EMI • 2011 — SA Great Performers — Gallo Record Company • 2015 — Greatest Moments — Gallo Record Company • 2013 — Colours of Africa — Gallo Record Company
Singles and EPs
Singles and EPs
• Year — Title — Label (original issue) • 1978 — Mamsy / Bolova — His Master's Voice • 1978 — Rosemary / Sweet Jane — His Master's Voice • 1978 — Themba — His Master's Voice • 1979 — Nomsa Ntombi Yami — His Master's Voice • 1979 — Aka Zenzanga (U Mary) / Uqhoka Amasudi — His Master's Voice
Biography
Biography
• By Sydney Fetsie Maluleke (2019); Foreword by Max Mojapelo Steve Kekana: The I In Me, Protea Book House
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2021
Steve Kekana died at Polokwane Provincial Hospital.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Zebediela.
Birth place
Polokwane Provincial Hospital.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Steve Kekana”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q5905042: Steve Kekana
Unverified · Wikidata
Awards and honours
• Period — Honour / Award • 1978-2021 — Received more than 70 Golden Disc Awards • 1980 — The Best Male Vocalist Award (Radio Zulu) • 1984 — The Four Outstanding Young South African (FOYSA) Award • 1985 — The Ten Outstanding Young People of the World (TOYP) Award • 1986 — The OKTV award • 2010 — Mama Bheka Community Awards • 2018 — SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award (SAMA 24)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Emmanuel Tjiya. Breaking: Legendary musician Steve Kekana has died. Sowetan Live. 1 July 2021.
- 2.Mojapelo, Max. Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. 27. 18 March 2009. 978-1-920299-28-6.
- 3.www.music.org.za.
- 4.www.rock.co.za.
- 5.Mojapelo, Max. Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. 1 July 2008. 9781920299286.
- 6.Discogs.com. Mamsy / Bolovai. Discogs. 1978.
- 7.Discogs.com. Rosemary / Sweet Janei. Discogs. 1978.
- 8.Discogs.com. Aka Zenzanga (U Mary) / Uqhoka Amasudi. Discogs. 1979.
- 9.Loot.co.za. Steve Kekana: The I In Me (Paperback): Sydney Fetsie Maluleke: 9780639814704 | Books | Buy online in South Africa from.
- 10.Steve Kekana: The I In Me (Paperback). BookHub. 25 November 2019.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedauthority record
Unverified
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 14 August 2026.
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