Gezani Maluleke has left to join celestial band
Legendary Tsonga musician was a gifted guitarist and singer of note
Born: March 16 1968
Died: November 16
Funeral: Tomorrow at Jilongo village, Collins Chabane local municipality, Limpopo, starting at 6am
Burial: Jilongo Cemetery
Award-winning Tsonga traditional musician Gezani David Maluleke is no more. He died on Monday at Malamulele Hospital after a short illness.
The musician, who has left us to join the celestial band, was one of themost gifted guitarists and singers in the Tsonga music genre.
Born in 1968, Maluleke did not do much schooling and left school prematurely in Standard 5 (now grade 7).
After leaving school hewent to work as a labourer on the farms in Rionde in Limpopo.
He later left to go to Johannesburg where he joined a construction company, assisting builders in construction.
It was not long before he became a self-employed bricklayer until he died.
Themusic bug bit him early in his life but he was only able to break into showbiz in 1996 when he approached Tsonga traditional music doyen Dr
Thomas Hasani Chauke, who helped him to record his first album, titled Madyisambitsi Number 1, at his studio at Salema village in Xikundu.
In 1998, Maluleke recorded his second album, Madyisambitsi 2, at Richard Siluma’s studio in Johannesburg.
His third offering, Mathandazindaba, was also recorded at Chauke’s studio in 2000.
Perhaps his most successful album was his fourth, Kgotso Africa , recorded in 2004 at David Moloeloe Studio at Balfour Park, Johannesburg.
A track from the album, Ma Ni Landzula (you shun me), went onto win an award at the Munghana Lonene Music Awards – clinching the best traditional music gong.
This catapulted the Jilongo musician to instant recognition and he was then invited to perform at different shows.
He later recorded another album, Ti Dollar, and his last offering was Matilda.
His death has enveloped rural communities with sadness.
Three musicians – Alpheus Maluleke of Ntlhaveni Brothers, MJ Ntlemo of Lombard village and Lisbeth Mathebula, who is his protégé and is now a musician in her own right – expressed sadness at the loss.
Maluleke has left to join other departed top musicians who were doing well in this music category.
They included SK Skhandule Mabasa, Richard Maceke, MD Shirinda, Khatisa Chavalala, GT Chauke, Sam Sikiza Chauke, Matshwa Bemuda and Peter Hlungwani.
Mathebula said: “I was his backing artist and he assisted me until I started my own band, but we collaborated until his passing.”
Family spokesperson Eddy Maluleke said the family decided to start with the burial before the funeral service because of the lockdown rules.
Maluleke is survived by his wife and six children.
He will be laid to rest at Jilongo tomorrow.
The burial will precede the service and it will be at 4am, while the service will be held at 6am.
‘‘ He was one of most gifted guitarists and singers