Robbie Malinga

Robbie Malinga was born on 8 November 1968 in Meadowlands, Soweto, and his relationship with music began at the most natural starting point imaginable. As a young boy he taught himself piano by playing at church, an informal education that would quietly underpin one of the most accomplished production careers South African popular music has ever seen. He later formalised his training at college in Roodepoort in the early 1990s, and from there found his feet as a session musician, playing alongside Blondie Makhene, Freddie Gwala and the group Platform One before stepping out as a recording artist in his own right.

His earliest recordings appeared in 1998, and the kwaito track Intsimbi announced him to the South African market with immediate effect. But it was behind the mixing desk that Malinga's most lasting influence would be felt. His gift was a rare fluency across genres. Kwaito, Afro-soul, gospel and Afro-pop all fell naturally within his range, and artists seeking that combination of commercial instinct, melodic sophistication and authentic township feeling sought him out in considerable numbers. He shaped the careers of Zahara, most notably her platinum debut Loliwe, Brown Dash, Kabelo Mabalane, Arthur Mafokate, Mzekezeke, Brickz, Ntando, Nhlanhla Nciza and Doc Shebeleza, among many others. He co-produced the Orlando Pirates FC anthem Yiyo Le iBhakaniya and collaborated with Lebo M on a remix for The Lion King. Duets with Naima Kay, Kelly Khumalo and Musa Sukwene kept him at the top of the charts well into the 2010s.

His awards reflected the industry's recognition of his contribution. He won the South African Music Award for Best Remix of the Year in 2015 for Indlela Yam, and the SAMA for Best Producer of the Year in 2016 for his work on the album Country Girl. He also won the Clash of the Choirs competition in its second series. He founded and ran his own imprint, Robbie Malinga Entertainment, and released his self-titled final album, Mr Serious, in November 2017.

Robbie Malinga died on Christmas Day 2017 at Fourways, Sandton, aged 49, after a period of illness. He was married to Ann Malinga and is survived by her and their two sons. The Recording Industry of South Africa described his passing as a definite end of an era. It was not an overstatement.