Ex-wife of late SA muso battles with family over his burial

The final send-off for the late Musa Manzini — celebrated jazz musician and former music producer for Generations and Backstage — hangs in the balance as a battle plays out between his former wife and family over his burial.

Manzini, who would have turned 52 on May 30, died at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg on Monday after suffering a seizure.

Since being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in 2006, Manzini underwent five craniotomies, including a groundbreaking awake craniotomy in 2018, during which he strummed his guitar while surgeons removed the tumour.

His family and long-time partner Palesa Mazamisa planned to bury him next to his mother in Esikhawini, northern KwaZulu-Natal, after a church service on Saturday.

But his former wife Shaheeda January and their son Yusuf Manzini, 25, want him buried according to Muslim rites in Cape Town.

It is understood that Manzini no longer followed Islam.

January lashed out at a funeral fund that has been set for Manzini, saying in a Facebook post “my son will bury his father”.

“My son Yusuf Manzini is the next of kin of the late #musamanzini. Many arrangements and requests have been made by people who do not represent the Manzinis. Please do not pay any money into any bank accounts. My son will bury his father.

“The level of disrespect is ridiculous. My children had to learn from social media what is happening. They did not have the decency to call my children and let them know that their father had passed,” she said in the post.

January told media they were going to fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg to secure a court interdict to stop the funeral from taking place in KwaZulu-Natal.

TimesLIVE Premium has reached out to January and awaits her comment.

When I saw him in the mortuary in Monday, I realised he was no longer suffering. He looked at peace. That's how we want to send him off — peacefully.

—  Palesa Mazamisa

A devastated Mazamisa, who had been by Manzini's side through his many health challenges, said “my heart is aching for Musa, he does not deserve this”.

“When I saw him in the mortuary on Monday, I realised he was no longer suffering. He looked at peace. That's how we want to send him off — peacefully.”

She said Manzini and she were married according to African custom and had planned to legally marry in August this year.

“Musa and I are married traditionally, lobola. We just did not make it to Home Affairs. Musa and Shaeeda divorced in 2001, I'm not sure why she is still claiming wifely rights. According to African custom we are married.

“It's sad that so much energy is now devoted to this instead of celebrating Musa's life.”

She said Manzini is to be buried according to his wishes.

She is uncertain how things will pan out, saying “it's a matter for the elders in Musa's family to decide”.

“Musa was a warrior, a kind and generous soul, a philosopher, a man who loved to joke and laugh. He fought a valiant battle. We just want to celebrate him and send him off peacefully,” said Mazamisa.

Manzini was known for his exceptional skill as a bass player.

In 1985 his father, who was living in Cape Town, took him there to complete high school and pursue a tertiary education. 

It was during high school that he first picked up the guitar as a hobby and was hooked.

In 1995, while at the University of Cape Town (UCT), he received the Prof Peter Klatzow award for composition and orchestration.

“It was a big challenge for Musa, coming from the township and being introduced to classical music at tertiary level, having to analyse the music of Bach, Chopin, Mozart, Debussy, Schönberg and other European composers,” said Mazamisa.

After graduating with a BMus degree, he spent three years as a part-time lecturer at UCT instructing electric and acoustic basses, jazz theory and improvisation to bridging course students.

At the same time, he performed and recorded as a session musician with musicians such as Rene MacLean, Winston “Mankunku” Ngozi, Vusi Khumalo, Jimmy Dludlu, Jonathan Butler, Gavin Minter, Nhlanhla Magagula, Kevin Gibson, Mark Goliath, Judith Sephuma, Sipho Mabuse, Elvin Dyers, Menyatso Mathole, Selaelo Selota, Joe McBride and UCT's Jazz Orchestra.

Over the years, Manzini released five albums, including New Reflections, Tributes & Memories, My Bass, Simply Life, Best of Musa Manzini and Trust in Love.

Of his love for music, Manzini said: “When I’m on stage, I perform to the best of my abilities, like there is no tomorrow. Jazz becomes my cry, I’m bare, and naked on stage, the soul takes over. It’s no longer me performing, but me as a vessel.”

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