Sipho SJ Malinga

Sipho's story begins like every great drummer's - with a feel. A pulse he couldn't ignore. From his first kit to the studios of Cape Town, from local church stages to international tours, that pulse has carried him for over two decades.

In 2004 he formalised his craft at the University of Cape Town, studying Jazz Performance under some of the country's most respected musicians. He went on to earn a Trinity College London Grade 8 with Distinction in Rock & Pop Drums, and later a Licentiate Diploma in Drum Performance - credentials that few drumming educators in Africa hold.

On stage, Sipho has shared the rhythm with names that shape the global landscape: Kirk Whalum, Kenny G, Richard Bona, the legendary Womack & Womack tour, and South African icons including Selaelo Selota, Dr Sello Galane, Deborah Fraser and Themba Mkhize.

Today, alongside performing and recording, he gives ten percent of his week to something he believes is just as important as any tour: teaching the next drummer.