At 82, Dr Mbulu walked onto the graduation stage to the sweet sounds of her iconic hit song There’s Music in the Air.
Standing at the podium, she was the image of grace and humility as she reflected on a life that has transcended borders, bridged cultures and awakened political consciousness through the universal language of music.
It was a moment long in the making, a moment that carried the weight of decades of exile, resistance, resilience and excellence.
Dressed in her doctoral gown, the legendary jazz and afro-soul icon became not only a recipient of academic honour, but a living embodiment of what Mandela University seeks to celebrate – transformation, humanity and the pursuit of justice through creative expression.
Briefly addressing the congregation before handing over to her niece, Nthabiseng Tshabalala, to deliver her full acceptance speech, Dr Mbulu thanked the University for the honour.
“I never imagined that a young girl like me would be where I am today, to be 82 and to be recognised amongst scholars and those who worked tirelessly to achieve what we are here for today is unbelievable. The world is truly one’s for the taking. Never stop dreaming. It is possible,” she said in her moving acceptance speech delivered by her niece, Nthabiseng Tshabalala, on her behalf.
Born in Orlando East, Soweto, in 1942, Dr Mbulu’s journey into the world of music began at the tender age of 13 when she joined the African Jazz Variety show in 1957. This was an era dense with the heavy air of apartheid. Though young, she could sense something was not right with the world around her. Her voice, therefore, became a vehicle for questioning, healing and hope.
She got her big break as a cast member of the groundbreaking interracial musical King Kong (1959), a jazz opera based on the life of boxer Ezekiel Dlamini. The production travelled to Europe in 1961 with an all-black cast and opened doors to the international stage. It was during this tour that she met her life partner and creative collaborator, Caiphus Semenya, marking the beginning of a musical and marital union that would inspire generations.
In 1964, at just 21, Dr Mbulu left South Africa for the United States to escape the stifling grip of apartheid. She hoped to formally study music and composition, but the American education system deemed her too old for their classrooms. Undiscouraged, she turned to the music itself, learning from the voices of folk legends like Nina Simone and her dear friend and mentor, mam’ uMiriam Makeba.
She made her time in exile a mission. While based in the US, Dr Mbulu immersed herself in a network of politically conscious artists and exiled South Africans. Collaborations with international greats such as Harry Belafonte, Cannonball Adderley and Quincy Jones, followed and her voice began echoing across continents, not just as entertainment, but as a cry for justice and freedom.
Her music infused African rhythms with jazz, soul and gospel, creating a uniquely global sound rooted in African soil. Songs like There’s Music in the Air, Angelina and the anthemic Not Yet Uhuru captured the dreams and disillusionments of a nation in flux. “Sounds of the Rainbow,” which she began performing globally in the 1980s, reflected her earlier dreams of a liberated South Africa.
Dr Mbulu’s song Not Yet Uhuru, written upon her return to the country in 1991 after 26 years in exile, became a defining reflection on the country’s uneasy transition to democracy. It acknowledged both the triumph and the ongoing struggle, declaring in melody what many felt in their hearts – that freedom had not yet fully arrived.
In 1985, she became the first narrator of the iconic film You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock, which documented the power of Black South African women under apartheid. A year later, she co-founded the South African Artists United (SAAU), uniting artists across race and geography to foster solidarity and transformation through the arts.
Throughout her 60-year career, Dr Mbulu has not only performed but also composed, advocated, mentored and inspired. Her music is studied in scholarly texts, her name etched alongside luminaries of the country’s resistance and creativity. She has earned numerous accolades, including the South African Music Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001, the Order of Ikhamanga (Silver) from the Presidency in 2009 and the Ellen Khuzwayo Award from the University of Johannesburg.
In motivating for the award, Mandela University affirmed how Dr Mbulu’s legacy extends far beyond her achievements, describing her as a “vernacular intellectual” – a figure who uses popular culture to articulate political truths and community aspirations.
“During the dark days of colonialism and apartheid, you continued to be my source of inspiration. You became my compass not to lose direction,” she said.
From left Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa, Chairperson of Council Judge Nambitha Dambuza, honorary doctorate recipient Dr Letta Mbulu, and Chancellor Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi
Dr Mbulu extended heartfelt thanks to the University’s leadership – Chancellor Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa and Chairperson of Council Judge Nambitha Dambuza – for “making me feel so important by this prestigious bestowal of an honorary degree”.
She accepted the honour not only as a personal accolade, but also as a collective recognition of music’s power to archive history, nourish identity and drive change.
“This honour is a reminder that the work of building inclusive and sustainable communities is far from over. It is a call to action to continue using every platform we have to uplift others,” she said.
While she may be 82, her voice – both literal and symbolic – remains timeless. She continues to read children’s stories on SABC, nurturing the imagination of younger generations. Her music remains on playlists across the country and world.
And now, her name is inscribed among the honoured alumni of Nelson Mandela University, marking a fitting tribute to a woman who used her voice not only for fame, but for freedom.