Peace Mabe, the deputy minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, has called on the music industry to unite and formalise themselves in order to benefit from the government.
Mabe was speaking during a memorial service for kwaito icon Mapaputsi, real name Sandile Ngwenya, who died at the age of 45 last Thursday following an undisclosed illness.
“You must unite as Mama Mercy Pakela has said, you must unite because we want to support you as government and Minister Gayton McKenzie wants to support you, but if there is no organisation, we cannot account for the funds we give to individuals. I know that there was an indaba and resolutions were taken. We will familiarise ourselves with those resolutions and want to commit ourselves to achieving some of these resolutions during this financial year,” Mabe said.
The award-winning kwaito star, whose hit song “Izinja” catapulted him to superstardom in 2001, was celebrated during a service held at the Mayibuye Shopping Centre in Soweto on Thursday afternoon.
Among the many people who came to pay their respects were the likes of Tshepo Nzimande and Lance Stehr, Trompies members Mandla Mofokeng and Eugene Mthethwa, as well as Mercy Pakela, Fifi Cooper, Phila Madlingozi and Dumisani Dlamini.
Motswako rapper Fifi Cooper, who spoke kindly of her friendship with the icon, said even though she was much younger than Mapaputsi, their friendship of more than eight years was special as he regarded her as his friend and daughter.
“I am sure you wondering why I’m here. The reason is that I was close Mapaputsi because of the music. I met him eight years ago and he is a legend to me and paved a way for many of us who are multi-award-winning artists. But there were people like him who paved a way. When I lost my dad, I never thought I would have an industry dad, and his advice made me the person I am today,” she said.
For singer Madlingozi, Mapaputsi was a musical encyclopedia and a funny person.
“He was the most hilarious man I have ever known. I’m sad that when he left Joburg for KZN, I was unable to see when I could have seen him, but I believed that we would still be with us when he came back because he used to say I’m not a dying type,” he said.
Nzimande, the founder of Bula Music, who worked with Mapaputsi before he shot to fame, revealed how the kwaito star made him listen to his hit song and asked him to distribute the song, but he referred him to Stehr of Ghetto Ruff as his label was dedicated to gospel artists.
“When he gave me his song, ‘Izinja’, I called Mpumi Phillips who gave his song to Lance, and the rest is history. However, I admire Mapaputsi’s passion and his patience as he never gave up on his dream,” he said.
Having worked with Mapaputsi on his two albums and first two iconic music videos, Stehr commended Mapaputsi for his “never say die” attitude.
“As human beings we all make mistakes but he was able to distinguish himself through his music and the two music videos we shot which set him apart from his other peers,” said Stehr.
SAMRO’s (Southern African Music Rights Organisation) Karabo Senna said his music will last for ever and his family will for more than 50 years benefit from his legacy.
“SAMRO does not take care only when you are making music, but also as an individual and retirement annuities, which we will speak to the family about. But most importantly, we need to continuously play his music, which means his family are still able to be paid 50 years after his passing,” he said.
“We must make sure we stream and radio plays his music, so the family benefits from that music, has value and that is his legacy. Enjoy the music beyond this point,” Senna said.
The Star