Khumalo sang at the 75th birthday of Nelson Mandela in 1993, as well as at his inauguration as President of South Africa one year later. He gave her the popular moniker of South Africa's "First Lady of Song". She subsequently led the national anthems of South Africa and of New Zealand at the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. She later revealed in 2017 that this was "the one and only time I’ve ever watched a rugby match, at any level, of any kind". She released her debut album, titled "Ancient Evenings", the following year. Several music critics stated that this was one of her finest works.