[3] Bakithi Kumalo was born in the Johannesburg township of Soweto,[4] surrounded by relatives who loved music and actively performed.
He has also released several solo records, and continued to perform as a session musician with artists such as Joan Baez, Cyndi Lauper, Herbie Hancock, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Randy Brecker, Grover Washington Jr., and Mickey Hart.
[2] Kumalo's playing combines elements of American Motown and jazz styles with traditional South African music.
[2][7] His lines "typically feature inverted broken arpeggios, quick pentatonic lines, and counter melodies," using techniques such as slap bass, dead notes, "octave 'hiccups,' anticipated downbeats, triplets, and double stops.
"[2] He cites Jaco Pastorius, Alphonso Johnson, and James Jamerson as important early influences.