Shortly after Khumalo's birth his parents were ordained as ministers in the Salvation Army, which ran the farm at the time.
He continued his studies, obtaining a bachelor's degree with majors in English and Zulu in 1956 from the University of South Africa.
[2] Khumalo's career in the Department of African Languages of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg began in 1969, when he held a position as a tutor.
[6] Khumalo is also the composer of the cantata uShaka KaSenzangakhona, which tells the story of the Zulu king, Shaka.
[10][11] He also played a role in producing the official post-apartheid version of the National Anthem of South Africa,[12] at the request of President Nelson Mandela.