A celebratory and tearful goodbye for a kwaito legend Mandoza

23 September 2016 - 21:36 By Sefiso Hlongwane
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The funerals I’ve attended have all been very much the same. Relatives and friends arrive in all black and take seats in the church pews for a sombre ceremony where prayers are said, memories are shared and tears are shed.

The attendees walk slowly out to their cars and form a single file line behind the hearse, arriving at the graveyard where they place roses on the casket just before it’s lowered into the ground. Then, they proceed to the immediate family’s home, where the doorbell rings with a steady stream of loved ones and casserole dishes in hand

However, this was hardly the case at Mandoza's funeral. Dare I say, it was a send-off like no other.

While funeral practices are deeply ingrained in culture and reflect a wide spread of beliefs and values, Mandoza's interment was, at best, an embodiment of his personality, as hundreds of mourners gathered at the Grace Bible Church in Soweto to bid a final farewell to a kwaito legend.

Happy funeral: A celebration of life

As expected, I walked into despondent environment as the funeral service got underway. I'm not sure whether it was the giant-sized photo of Mandoza standing in front on the stage with soft religious hymns playing in the background, or seeing those close to Mandoza including his widow Mpho fighting to hold back tears - that painted a heartrending picture.

However, the narrative quickly took a different direction when the only surviving Chiskop group member General took to the stage in high-spirits, urging all attendees to "celebrate" Mandoza's life.

Shortly after, the mood started picking up as speakers and the MC - Mzwakhe Mbuli - shared light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek anecdotes in honour of Mandoza.

His son, Tokollo, had mourners in stitches when he took to the stand to open up about how he was the influence behind Mandoza's highly-praised sense of style.

"Do you see this picture, and take a look at this jacket he’s wearing; if I wasn’t there, he wouldn't have bought the jacket," he quipped during his speech.

And his mother, Mandoza's wife Mpho, was just as sparky and lively when she shared fond memories of how they got through difficult situations in their nuclear family.

She told mourners that she knows she’s not alone and by the grace of God she will raise her kids.

"I am not alone‚ I have the whole nation to help me raise these kids‚" she said, before vowing to keep Mandoza's legacy alive with the announcement of the first artist signed to the late kwaito singer's record label.

And still on the topic of speakers, no one saw it coming when Gabi le Roux, who produced Mandoza's big crossover hit, Nkalakatha, when he apologised to black South Africans for what his ancestors did to them.

"Allow me to say, As a white person, I am sorry for what my ancestors did to your ancestors," he said.

90% Hlaudi and 10% Mandoza

But it was former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who stole the show after taking to the stage to push his own agenda, lambasting his critics.

 

The controversial SABC leader started off by telling mourners about his last visit to Mandoza, but then went off on a tangent singing his own praises.

"Who is the problem in South Africa? The problem is black people. If you ask black people, they complain about transformation but they are in charge of transformation. How can you complain about yourselves?" he said, enough to get tongues, mine included, wagging.

Kwaito legends unite! Kwaito music flares up! Kwaito legend celebrated!

However, on a more positive note, one of the most memorable moments of the church service was when a host of kwaito legends - including Doc Shebeleza, Mdu, General and many more - filled up the stage for a kwaito medley of note.

 

It was the memorial service all over again, as everyone got up on their feet, dancing and singing along to classic local tunes such as Boom Shaka's Thobela. In case you ever doubted whether kwaito was still alive or not, this very moment was proof enough that the authentic South African genre is still very much alert and active.

Westpark cemetery: Home to fallen icons

Shortly after, it was time to take Mandoza to his final place of rest: The Westpark cemetery in Melville.

Yes, a cemetery in Melville as opposed to one in Soweto, because SA's fallen icons have to lie close to each other.

Right next to Mandoza's gravesite are where racing car driver Gugu Zulu, rapper Flabba, Simba Mhere, Baby Jake, footballer John "Shoes" Lesiba Moshoeu and Eddie Zondi were laid to rest. This, for me, was a heartfelt revelation. To see lamented public figures "united".

In keeping with the celebratory mood, the cemetery service was also nothing short of song, dance and Nkalakatha. But it had to take a slew of attendees to lash out at Mzwakhe to start playing music, before they were able to have their last dance in memory of Mandoza.

But could it have been a bit too much?

Look, it was no secret that the entire send-off was unconventional, but I was personally taken aback to see mourners flattening the fresh soil on his grave by dancing on it, as Nkalakatha was blasted from the speakers. Some guys even took their shirts off. Then again, perhaps that's how Mandoza would have liked it.

 

But the golden moment of the cemetery programme? The unveiling of the tombstone, hands down.

I have to admit that it is one of the most beautiful pieces of art I've ever seen. Simple, yet bold.

And I'm more than certain that I wasn't the only one who effused about the stone, which carried a bronze face sculpture of Mandoza - placed fittingly in the centre (because, that was Mandoza - often the centre of attraction).

 

 

But all in all, if I had to describe the service in short, I would say it broke new ground - just like Mandoza did during the lengthy span of his career.

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