Allen Kwela was born on the 11 September 1939 in Chesterville, Durban and grew up on the South Coast where he also attended school. He began his young life as a heardboy, but apart from attending school he already realised that his passion was for the guitar. His brothers were both musical playing the guitar and violin restively, but rather than encourage their younger sibling they would give his a severe beating if he so much as touched their instruments.