Hundreds of people converged at Johnson Ngwevela Community Hall in Langa on Saturday 2 September to bid farewell to well-known jazz singer Sylvia Ncediwe Mdunyelwa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 75-year-old died in hospital on Friday 25 August after a short illness. (\u201cTributes pour in for jazz icon\u201d, City Vision, 31 August). She was laid to rest at the Langa Cemetery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zizi Kodwa, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, former Congress of the People member and former chair of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) Leonard Ramatlakane, and jazz musicians Dumza Maswana and Mpho and Vimba Band were among the dignitaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The death of Mdunyelwa, who made a name for herself in the jazz field as a vocalist, is widely considered a huge loss to the nation. Kodwa said Mdunyelwa was on the cusp of being honoured as one of the country\u2019s living legends, the same honour accorded John Kani two weeks ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs the department we want to honour them while they are still alive,\u201d she pointed out. \u201cWe believe we must honour them while they can smell the flowers, but unfortunately Mama Sylvia passed away. She started singing in the apartheid era, a time when artists were barely paid, if at all. Nevertheless, to them music was a way of life, using their craft to portray the conditions of our people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ward 51 councillor Lwazi Phakade described the late songbird as a community leader. She was also a member of the street committee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMama Sylvia was one of us,\u201d Phakade said. \u201cShe was not just a celebrity here in Langa. She was passionate about the development. We were working so closely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said her death was not a loss only to her family but to the entire community. Phakade vowed to continue where she left off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mdunyelwa\u2019s son Banzi Tema expressed his gratitude to all those who supported the family during hard times. He stated life would never be the same without his mother. He said the family\u2019s spirit has been lifted by all the expressions of sympathy and support from near and far. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hundreds of people converged at Johnson Ngwevela Community Hall in Langa on Saturday 2 September to bid farewell to well-known jazz singer Sylvia Ncediwe 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