Todd Tozama Matshikiza, musician, composer and writer, is born in Queenstown, Eastern Cape

Date: 7 Mar 1921
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Todd Tozama Matshikiza, musician, composer and writer, is born in Queenstown, Eastern Cape

Todd Tozama Matshikiza was born to a musical family in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape on 7 March 1921. He obtained music and teaching diplomas and took up a teaching post in Alice. In 1947, Matshikiza moved to Johannesburg where he established a music school, the Todd Matshikiza School of Music. He was also one of the first black journalists to work for Drum Magazine. Matshikiza wrote the music for the musical King Kong, which became a huge success both locally and abroad. In 1960, he and his family left South Africa and relocated to London. After a few years of performing in night clubs and freelancing for a few London Publications, Matshikiza moved to Zambia. He took up a post as a newscaster and producer for the Zambian Broadcasting Cooperation. Matshikiza missed South Africa and was pained by the fact that he was banned in his own country. He died in 1968 and was survive by his wife and two children. His son John Matshikiza was a well known actor before his untimely death in 2008.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01SAHO, Todd Tozama Matshikiza, from South African History Online, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 21 February 2013]
02Britannica, Todd Matshikiza, from Britannica Encyclopedia, [online], Available at www.britannica.com [Accessed: 21 February 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, February 27). Todd Tozama Matshikiza, musician, composer and writer, is born in Queenstown, Eastern Cape. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095046

South African History Online (2013) 'Todd Tozama Matshikiza, musician, composer and writer, is born in Queenstown, Eastern Cape', South African History Online, 27 February. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095046 (Accessed: 22 August 2026).

South African History Online, Todd Tozama Matshikiza, musician, composer and writer, is born in Queenstown, Eastern Cape [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095046, (accessed 22 August 2026).

"Todd Tozama Matshikiza, musician, composer and writer, is born in Queenstown, Eastern Cape." South African History Online, 27 Feb. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095046. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Todd Tozama Matshikiza, musician, composer and writer, is born in Queenstown, Eastern Cape." South African History Online. February 27, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095046.