Go Back
Don Laka
First Name: 
Other Names: 
Last Name: 
Stage Name: 
Country: 
Born: 
Primary Language: 

Participations

43
Producer
18
Songwriter
1
Keyboardist
2
Instrumentalist
2
Pianist
1
Composer
1
Adapter
Bio
Don Laka, also known as Donald Mahwetša Laka, is a Grammy Award-winning jazz musician, songwriter, music producer, and the creator of "kwaai-jazz" from South Africa. He started his first band in 1969, and in 1972 he released his debut album, which featured Ray Phiri on guitar. Between 1980 and 1981, Don joined the Afro-fusion group Sakhile, significantly influencing South African music. Concurrently, he recorded a major hit with the group "Oneness" before founding his own band, "Ymage," which produced an impressive 12 LPs over a decade. Don played a pivotal role in launching the record company that evolved into Kalawa Jazmee and, more recently, established the "Kwai-jazz" label, Bokone Music.
Discography
Discography not yet available. Check later.
Label
Record Label associated with Don Laka - past and current.
    Similar Artists
    Mathey
    MatheyIvory Coast |1920| French
    Marie-Thérèse Niambé, famously known as Mathey, stands as a prominent afro-zouk vocalist from Ivory Coast. Prior to her musical journey, she served within the ranks of the Côte d'Ivoire army while simultaneously lending her voice to the Orchestre de la Marine, marking her debut in 1988. Mathey's burgeoning talent compelled her to transition from military service to a flourishing solo music career. Distinguished by her vibrant style, her music infuses the mellowness of afro-zouk with the spirited essence of Ivorian folklore. Mathey's success story unfolds through several well-received albums. After a period of artistic hiatus, she resurfaced in 2014 with her 14-track album "Tu m'as dit," reaffirming her undeniable musical prowess.
    Tamrat Desta
    Tamrat DestaEthiopia |1978| Amharic
    Tamrat Desta was a renowned Ethiopian singer-songwriter who gained fame during the 2000s. He began his career in Dire Dawa in 1998, performing as a singer before moving to Addis Ababa to pursue music professionally. Tamrat released his debut album "Anleyaym" in 2004, followed by "Kanchi Aybeltm" in 2008, and "Keza Sefer" in 2014. Tragically, Tamrat passed away in 2018 due to a mild illness, cutting short a promising career.
    Kabomo
    KabomoSouth Africa |1978| Zulu
    Kabomo Vilakazi, popularly known as Kabomo, is a talented South African actor and singer. He first gained recognition with his single "Uzobuya" in 2012, followed by the successful albums "All Things Grey" and "Sekusile". In addition to his music career, He is also a successful actor. He has since appeared in numerous television shows and he has directed two feature films and wrote the script for the popular drama. As a songwriter, he has created popular songs for many South African singers
    Rocky Dawuni
    Rocky DawuniGhana |1969| English
    Rocky Dawuni is a two-time GRAMMY nominated singer, songwriter, producer and activist. He is known for his unique "Afro Roots" sound, which straddles the boundaries between Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S. He is also a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment for Africa, a UN Foundation Ambassador for the Clean Cooking Alliance and a Global Ambassador for the World Day of African and Afrodescendant Culture, using his music and platform to raise awareness on important global issues.
    Héritier Watanabe
    Héritier WatanabeCongo, The Democratic Republic of the |1982| French
    Héritier Bondongo Kabeya, renowned as Héritier Watanabe, is a versatile Congolese artist hailing from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. With a musical journey that started at the tender age of 10, he embraced the spotlight as a singer-songwriter and mesmerizing dancer. Notably, he graced the stage as a member of Wenge Musica Maison Mère from 2001 to 2015, a chapter he eventually bid farewell to, choosing a fresh path under the wings of Obouo Music Label, led by David Monsoh. In July 2016, he released his debut single, "B.M," which was followed by his inaugural album "Carrière d'honneur - Retirada" in November 2016, solidifying his presence in the music scene.
    Kelly Khumalo
    Kelly KhumaloSouth Africa |1984| Zulu
    Kelly Nonhlanhla Khumalo, known as Kelly Khumalo, is a South African artist with a diverse range of talents that include singing, songwriting, acting, and dancing. Her debut studio album, T.K.O, was released in 2005 and it met with great success. This propelled her to the forefront of the Afro-pop music scene and earned her the title of Best Newcomer. Khumalo went on to release several more albums, including "The Past, The Present, The Future" in 2012, which garnered her an award in 2013.
    Arielle T
    Arielle TGabon |1978| French
    Arielle Tomby, professionally known as Arielle T, is a Gabonese singer-songwriter, known for her performances in Afro-zouk, RnB, soul, and Afro-soul music. She was first revealed in 1988 as a lead singer in the group Mballa and has a reputation as an excellent dancer and stage actor. Arielle has released several albums, including "Mes envies" in 2010 and "A Nu" in 2013. Arielle T has also collaborated with other artists like Shan'L, Tina, and Dibi Dobo.