Louis Mhlanga

Louis is respected as one of the greatest African jazz guitarists of our time. He has performed in many countries around the world (Brazil, France, Spain, the USA, and multiple African tours, to name a few), and unfailingly impresses audiences from all cultures and walks of life with his intuitive, inspiring and unique use of his instrument, the guitar.

Grammy Award- winning producer, Mark Johnson, is quoted as saying “Louis has a stellar reputation … one of the most exciting and electrifying performers to come along in years,” and flyglobalmusic.com reviews his CD World Traveller, as “A near faultless album and a creative statement of Pan-African vision”.

Of his solo performance at the 2010 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, Fiona Gordon, Contributing Editor of the Cue, says “Known particularly for his mastery of his strings, his use of voice is akin to his skill on guitar.” She further explains “His audience sits breathlessly still, mesmerised, aside from one or two who can’t stop tapping out a rhythm with one or other part of their bodies.”

Since 2007 Louis has had an ongoing relationship, performing with the American-based project, Playing for Change, which comprises musicians from the entire globe, from the African continent to South America, Europe to North America, and sees him perform his special brand of guitar wizardry across all States of North America.

Louis Mhlanga is a legend in the musical fraternity, the artists’ artist, and his distinctive style of picking and plucking the guitar, what he calls the African guitar, is now being emulated by a host of young guitarists.

In addition to being globally respected and acknowledged as the master of the African guitar, Louis is best known for his warmth and humility, and his guiding motto of respect, for the world and all the people in it. His persona and musical style embodies the voice of our continent.