'I can hear her laugh in these hills' — Msaki mourns late Xhosa musician Dr Madosini

29 December 2022 - 10:30
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Msaki shared that she was at the late musician's home
Msaki shared that she was at the late musician's home
Image: Veli Nhlapo

Musician Msaki is mourning the loss of Dr Latozi Madosini Mpahleni.

The legendary practitioner and guardian of traditional Xhosa cultural music died last week.

Taking to her Twitter timeline recently, Msaki shared snaps of herself in the Eastern Cape where the legendary musician will be laid to rest.  

In the post she explained she was at Mpahleni's home and reminisced about how she would pick the instruments she used for her music. 

“Ndivuka eMkhakhanto kwaMakhulu uMadosini. Sivela emlanjeni besiyokha amanzi. I can hear her laugh in these hills and I smiled for the first time.

“The forest in the valley is where she would pick her bows. Kubuhlungu kodwa liyaphuma ilanga. Camagu Madosini.”

The 79-year-old died after a lengthy illness.

“Dr Latozi Madosini Mpahleni passed on, on December 23 at St Mary’s Hospital in Mthatha after a relatively long illness. Having survived a heart attack while she was on a tour in France in 2019, as well as two Covid-19 attacks, her health status could not be back to its normalcy. As a result, from time to time she was admitted to hospital.

“Her last admission was at St Mary’s Hospital on December 3 where she subsequently succumbed at 4.15pm,” her family said in a statement.

Mpahleni was honoured with honorary degrees by Rhodes University and the University of Cape Town (UCT).

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