Joe Nina has been played on NTS in shows including Doing Time , featured first on 1 February 2026. Songs played include Nakana Makhure.

"Joe Nina was born Henry Makhosini Xaba in Kwa-Thema in the East Rand township. He grew up in a musical household and he was raised to become a musician. His father, Solomon was a guitar and saxophonist player back then during the Sophiatown days. His mother, Lettie did backing vocals for his father’s band, the Shamings. Little Joe Nina, aged three, happily accompanied Mom and Dad to gigs (where they were going to perform) sometimes to venues as far as Swaziland.

Aged twelve, Joe Nina would play drums and sing, thanks to his father’s expert coaching. By the age of fourteen Joe Nina knew the basic technique of the piano. He was not lazy when it came to school work. His favourite subjects were mathematics and physical science as his goal was to study medicine at university."