Johannes Hlongwane, known professionally as West Nkosi, born in 1940 in Nelspruit, South Africa, was a South African music producer, saxophonist, and songwriter. He began his musical career playing pennywhistle with the Pretoria Power Boys before moving to Johannesburg in 1956 and transitioning to the alto saxophone. He became a studio musician for Gallo Records. In the 1960s, Nkosi started recording under his own name and formed the Makgona Tsohle Band, which accompanied artists like Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens. His composition "2 Mabone" became a hit in the 1970s. As a producer for Gallo's Mavuthela Music label, he worked with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Jacob "Mpharanyana" Radebe. He contributed to Paul Simon's Graceland tour. In the 1990s, he produced albums for Phuzekemisi and Joe Mifela, and released the albums Sixteen Original Sax Jive Hits – Vol 1 in 1991 and Rhythm of Healing: Supreme Sax and Penny Whistle Township Jive in 1993. Nkosi died on October 8, 1998, from injuries sustained in a car accident.
