Jiving with the legend

We take a look at South African music legend, Sipho 'Hotstix' Mabuse.

80’s pop icon Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse is undoubtedly one of the country’s most prolific living legends. Having performed to critical acclaim on stages across the globe, Mabuse has the rare ability to make the world sit up, listen and dance whenever he performs. There is something about his sound that resonates with the audiences.

Mabuse’s illustrious musical career began at a very early age. Playing drums at the age of eight and a professional musician by the age of sixteen, Mabuse admits, “Frankly speaking I became a musician by default.

“I’ve always wanted to be an academic, I wanted to study, but God does His things His way. When He says this is where you go, you go,” he added.’

This doesn’t mean that Bra Sipho is an accidental musician. He loves and always has loved music. “Music, in a way can contribute to someone’s spirituality. You are insulated from the everyday pain that other people are experiencing,” he said.

Even though his artistry was nurtured when he was with the group, Harari, Bra Sipho proved over the years that he can hold his own. After Harari disbanded in 1982, his 1985 funky township disco single, Burn Out, became an instant hit in the country becoming the first major crossover hit in South Africa, and selling in excess of half a million copies.

No state of emergency could stop it from being a household record.

“I’ve never been the kind of musician that is confined to a success formula,” Mabuse said, “I like to create, I like to challenge myself. If at the end of the day I’m going to say because I was successful through Burn Out then maybe that’s where I should stay – I’m not driven by the material benefits from the music I make. It’s a self-fulfillment.”

Celebrating his golden anniversary in music this year, Mabuse still remains one of South Africa’s most endearing talents.