Mfaz' Omnyama

Mpatheni Khumalo aka Mfaz’ Omnyama was a giant of Maskandi music, a great guitar player and inventive lyricist, and without a doubt was one of South Africa’s premier Maskandi artists. Having recorded for over a decade, his music enriched the lives of many in his home country and across the world. Constantly a voice of peace and unity, he was an ambassador for Maskandi and he will be remembered as a part of Maskandi history in South Africa.

Mphatheni was dubbed Mfaz’ Omnyama after he became infatuated with the beauty of a young woman whose mother was very dark. He was bestowed with the name that was descriptive of the mother, ‘Mfaz’ – a woman who has given birth to- and ‘Mnyama’ meaning black. He had recorded six solo albums and was at work on his seventh release, Ngihlanze Ngedela. This last release of his was a full ten track traditional Maskandi album, and undoubtedly some of his best and undoubtedly some of his best work.