Gallo Music marks 100 years of hits

A full century of recording South African music just hit its milestone, and the label behind it all threw a proper reunion to celebrate.

Gallo Music turns 100

• Gallo Music, founded by Eric Gallo in 1926, is marking its centennial.
• It started as a small Johannesburg shop selling gramophones and imported records.
• The label grew into a major keeper of the country's musical heritage.
• Celebrations will stretch throughout 2026 with events for fans and artists.

Legends showed up for the party

• Sipho Hotstix Mabuse called the centenary a proud moment for South African music.
• Mahotella Queens members, Skwatta Kamp, and Ihhashi Elimhlophe all gathered at Sandton HQ.
• Mabuse tied the milestone to storytelling, identity, and history.
• Artists praised Gallo for treating musicians fairly over the decades.

Apartheid-era significance

• Black musicians got a platform when almost nobody else would give them one.
• Struggle-era songs carrying resistance and hope were recorded and preserved.
• Gallo helped push local hits onto the international stage.
• Generations of pain and joy live on in that catalog.

A living archive of the nation

• Goodwill Nkuna, head of legacy at Gallo, says the catalog is living history.
• Wedding bangers, taxi anthems, and protest songs all sit in the same vault.
• Streaming and digital platforms keep older recordings accessible worldwide.
• The label has pivoted to embrace Afro-pop, reggae, and house genres.

Why it matters beyond the music

• Gallo sustains jobs for artists, producers, engineers, and support staff.
• Young musicians still look at the label as a launchpad for careers.
• Re-releases of classic albums and emerging-artist support are both planned.
• The centennial doubles as a reminder to keep backing homegrown talent.