A collaboration between South African musicians Sipho Gumede, Mabi Thobejane, and Khaya Mahlangu, Sakhile combined traditional South African music and Miles Davis-influenced jazz fusion. Although their early albums found an enthusiastic audience in South Africa's Black townships, they didn't receive radio airplay and the group disbanded. Reuniting in 1987, Sakhile successfully reached out to an international following. In 1988 and 1989, they performed under the music direction of exiled composer Caiphus Semenya at anti-apartheid concerts in Switzerland, Italy, and the former U.S.S.R. They later served as the backing band for South African artists at a Nelson Mandela tribute concert at London's Wembley Stadium. Sakhile disbanded for a second time in 1991.