Steve Kekana

Biography

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.

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×Raising My Family1981 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Noma Ngi Nyama0:30A2Colour Me Black3:26A3Shine On3:31A4Ungavimbi Zomculo (Don't Stop The Music)5:33A5Back In The City5:17A6Working Man3:19B1Sounds Of Africa4:25B2Take Me Back3:45B3Raising My Family3:50B4Living Underground3:26B5Never Never5:50B6Noma Ngi Nyama (Reprise)0:52" 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.

Biography

By Sydney Fetsie Maluleke (2019); Foreword by Max Mojapelo Steve Kekana: The I In Me, Protea Book House ISBN 978-0-639-81470-4