Career
Born in Kwa-Maphumulo, near the Kwa-Zulu Natal town of Stanger, he started making traditional Zulu music on a home-made guitar. In the early 1980s, he joined the Mbaqanga band Oshimi, based in Durban. After two albums with the group, Luthuli embarked on a successful solo career.
After 23 albums with over a million sales, in February 2010 Luthuli released Imali YabeLungu.
Luthuli died aged 48 at McCord Hospital, Durban, after struggling for several weeks with the after-effects of a stroke. He was posthumously nominated for the 2012 18th South African Music Awards in the categories of Male Artist of the Year and Best Traditional Music Album for his last release, Isipho (Gift).
Luthuli was engaged for some time in a musical rivalry with fellow Maskanda singer Thokozani Langa. The dispute is the subject of Langa"s album entitled Phuma Kimi.
