Alan Silinga

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Alan Silinga (1922 - 2007) was a prolific South African composer, mostly remarkable for penning 'Ntyilo Ntyilo'. The song is considered a South African classic taken into international recognition by Mirriam Makeba's performance.

He was a son of a choir conductor, growing up in a family that had a deep appreciation for music. From a young age he was drawn to various indigenous musical styles in his community. By the time he completed his education at St. John’s College in Umthatha, Silinga had not only emerged as a well recognised tenor vocalist but was a creative composer whose music fused both the Western and African musical styles.

Due to his disillusionment with the exploitation of black genius by the music industry machine, he turned his back on a full time career in music and returned to Transkei where he financed and built the first supermarket in Umthata, 'Mandla ka Moya', as a gesture toward African economic self-determination.