At the ripe age of 76 years, veteran musician Daniel Shirinda, who is accredited with founding Xitsonga traditional music, has released a CD.

Shirinda, who has been recording since 1960, has recorded a CD, Thirty Thousands, which refers to the amount for paying lobola nowadays. “My age means nothing. I will sing until I go to the grave,” said Shirinda.

He said he had been building the nation through music for a long time. “I have recorded 764 songs in my career so far,” he added. Shirinda, who is also a traditional healer, has five wives and 44 children. He says that in the sixties it was hard to record his brand of music as producers said it would not sell.

“When you approached a company at the time, they asked you: 'Are you playing pop, banqanga or soul?' If the answer was not in the affirmative, the company would not dare sign you."

But Shirinda contributed to the success of the music. In 1976, he produced an album which sold nationally. One of its  tracks, He Modjadji, was later used by well-known producer Chicco Twala on his album.

In 1984, a track, Nkata Mina, from Shirinda’s album, Xikumakumani, released that year, was used by Paul Simon on his bestselling album Graceland and was renamed I know what I know. This was no mean feat for a boy from Makhasa village in Malamulele, who never saw the four walls of a classroom from the inside.

Shirinda has received a Living Legend award from Munghana Lonene FM for his role in promoting Xitsonga  music. He still performs live with his backing band, the Gaza sisters, comprising his wives.