The iconic musician strips away the production to deliver an acoustic track focused on healing and unity.
By Bulelwa Hoala
South African music legend Vusi Mahlasela has released a new single titled “Let There Be Peace” under Gallo Record Company.
The song blends World music with Afro Soul and Adult Contemporary influences, and sees Mahlasela returning to the acoustic sound that first made him one of South Africa’s most celebrated musical voices.
With its warm instrumentation and emotional delivery, “Let There Be Peace” carries a message of hope in an increasingly uncertain world.
The single is his third release from his upcoming album Questions and Answers, following the title track “Questions and Answers” and “Setšhu Sa Ditamati”.
Produced by Emmy and Grammy-winning producer Joe Arthur, “Let There Be Peace” is a stripped-back acoustic arrangement that gives Mahlasela’s songwriting and storytelling room to shine.
The release also highlights Mahlasela’s legacy as an artist who has always used music as a vehicle for social reflection and connection.
A voice rooted in South African history
Affectionately known as “The Voice”, Mahlasela is one of the most respected figures in contemporary global music.
He performed at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in 1994 and has also appeared at global events, including the 46664 Concerts and Live 8.
Growing up, Mahlasela was inspired by the music played in his grandmother’s shebeen, where he taught himself to play guitar. As a teenager, he started writing socially conscious songs before joining the poetry collective Ancestors of Africa in 1981. He later got involved with the Congress of South African Writers, which shaped his artistic journey further.
Over the years, Mahlasela has bridged folk, jazz, spirituality, and liberation storytelling, creating songs that continue to resonate across generations and borders.
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