Born in Kwa-Maphumulo, near the Kwa-Zulu Natal town of Stanger, he started making traditional Zulu music on a home-made guitar.

His second and third solo releases, Unembeza and Wongikhonzela Enhliziyweni, won OKTV awards, and were followed by another 17 albums.

It reached gold status in just one week and the title track won a SATMA 2011 award in the category of best song.

[2] Luthuli died aged 48 at McCord Hospital, Durban,[3] after struggling for several weeks with the after-effects of a stroke.

Luthuli was engaged for some time in a musical rivalry with fellow Maskanda singer Thokozani Langa.