Phelelani Mnomiya
Phelelani Mnomiya (1960-2020). South African composer.
Contents
Biography
Born in 1960 in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, Mnomiya did his elementary education in Emkhandlwini near Melmoth. He later moved to Durban where his passion for choral music began. Mnomiya became a member of his high school choir and formed a number of gospel groups.
Some of his popular compositions include ‘Amadlelo Aluhlaza’, ‘Kuhle Kwethu’, ‘Yekela Amathwasa Angene’ and ‘Madiba’. His other composition ‘Ihele’ was adopted by UKZN as a graduation procession song. Mnomiya was a teacher at Manzolwandle Secondary School and Umlazi Comtech and a music lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
Contribution to South African Theatre, Film, Media and Performance
As composer, Mnomiya's stage works include:
Ziyankomo and the Forbidden Fruit (2012)
Sources
Hilde Roos. 2012. 'Indigenisation and history: how opera in South Africa became South African opera'. Acta Academica Supplementum. 2012(1).
Ano Shumba. 'SA composer Phelelani Mnomiya dies'. Music in Africa. 1 September 2020.
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