Vusi Mahlasela reflects on music, resilience and his new album Questions & Answers

In this intimate profile, legendary South African musician Vusi “the Voice” Mahlasela opens up about his life, influences and upcoming album, Questions & Answers. Meeting at Café Barcelona in Hatfield, Pretoria, a modest but culturally rich venue, Mahlasela reflects on his deep ties to both Pretoria and Mamelodi, where a strong sense of community shaped his upbringing. Despite a childhood marked by the harsh realities of apartheid — including the violent death of his grandfather and his grandmother’s struggle to sustain the family — he describes a home filled with music, resilience and shared creativity.

Mahlasela recalls how early exposure to informal music-making sparked his passion, long before he fully grasped politics. The 1976 Soweto uprising marked a turning point, prompting him to question injustice and find inspiration in activist artists like Chile’s Victor Jara. His development was further nurtured through connections with prominent figures such as Nadine Gordimer, who supported his musical education and encouraged him to stay grounded.

He describes his songwriting as a form of diagnosis, raising social and moral questions around issues like corruption, inequality and healing, rather than prescribing answers. This philosophy underpins his new album, which invites listeners to engage deeply with its themes. Mahlasela also speaks about the spiritual dimension of his music, seeing it as guided by ancestors and a higher power.

Despite serious health challenges, including dialysis treatment, he maintains a positive outlook, emphasising the power of language and mindset. Rejecting ownership of illness, he frames it as a condition he manages. Ultimately, Mahlasela sees himself not as a star, but as a “firefly” — a humble source of light in dark times, offering guidance through music that is both personal and profoundly universal.