Allen Kwela

Allen Kwela (September 10, 1936^[1] in Chesterville, Durban – July 1, 2003) was a kwela and jazz guitarist from South Africa. He was raised around Durban where he herded cattle and learned music after making a tin guitar. He began in Kwela with Spokes Mashiyane, but later branched into jazz. His 2002 work The Broken Strings of Allen Kwela received award nominations for jazz.^[2] He has been said to have become a "revered figure" and "legendary" in South African jazz.^[3] He died in Johannesburg on 30 June 2003 and left a wife and four children.^[4]