Jazz musician Victor Ntoni dies at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg

Dave Brubeck (left) and Victor Ntoni (right) in Johannesburg, South Africa, photographer: Ronnie Kweyi

Date: 28 Jan 2013
Updated: 28 Jan 2022

On 28 January 2013 Victor Mhleli Ntoni died of heart attack, after he was admitted to hospital on Thursday due to persistent cough. The famous jazz bass player was born in Langa, Cape Town in 1947. As a teenager, Ntoni gradually established himself in the townships playing with saxophonist McCoy Mrubata. He was part of the sextet, “The Uptown”, which included the Ngcuka brothers. He was a self taught musician before he received a scholarship to study at the Berkley School of Music in Boston in 1976.

Ntoni was a composer and arranger for the likes of Hugh Masekela – notably, writing “Nomalizo” for the trumpeter, Abdullah Ibrahim, Ringo Madlingozi, Dondo, the South African Freedom Singers and the Victor Ntoni Big Band, amongst many others.

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How we know this

01SABC, Jazz legend Victor Ntoni dies, from South African Broadcasting, [online], Available at www.sabc.co.za [Accessed on 9 January 2014]
02Ansell, G., Soweto Blues: Jazz, Popular Music, and Politics in South Africa, Continuum Publishers, New York. London, pp 320 [Accessed on 9 January 2014]

Last updated · 28 Jan 2022

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2014, January 13). Jazz musician Victor Ntoni dies at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096846

South African History Online (2014) 'Jazz musician Victor Ntoni dies at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg', South African History Online, 13 January. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096846 (Accessed: 4 August 2026).

South African History Online, Jazz musician Victor Ntoni dies at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096846, (accessed 4 August 2026).

"Jazz musician Victor Ntoni dies at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg." South African History Online, 13 Jan. 2014, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096846. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Jazz musician Victor Ntoni dies at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg." South African History Online. January 13, 2014. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096846.