Statue of Sfiso Ncwane unveiled
Displayed at gospel musician’s funeral at Moses Mabhida Stadium
IN A surprising move, a life-size wax statue of gospel musician Sfiso Ncwane was unveiled at his funeral at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban yesterday.
Sculptor Lungelo Gumede, who is also Ncwane’s brotherin-law, unveiled the statue.
Ncwane died on Monday at the age of 37 at Fourways Life Hospital in Johannesburg due to kidney failure. His wife Ayanda was by his side. He had been taken to the hospital the previous night.
In a brief address, Gumede said Ncwane had always asked him to create a statue of him, but he (Gumede) had turned down this request by telling him he was not “celebrity enough” to deserve a statue.
“Sfiso and I were both artists, but he was a musician and I am a fine artist specialising as a sculptor. I had a long-standing agreement with him that, one day, I would make his statue but I always told him I only make statues of the rich and famous, political icons, and celebrities.
“But after seeing my sister Ayanda crying so much for her husband since Monday, I decided to do something to comfort her. And because on December 31 he was going to celebrate the awards he recently won, we used that as an excuse for me to build him a statue.”
Gumede said Ncwane and his wife had paid for the statue even though he was family, “because business is business”. He said it pained him that he had not finished the statue for Ncwane to see it.
Menzi Ngubane, a friend of Ncwane’s, spoke about his relationship with the musician.
He told mourners of how he had met Ncwane in 2000, before he became famous.
“I met Sfiso in Johannesburg back in 2000. He came to me and told me that he loved my character as an actor. He told me of his dream to record music,” said Ngubane.
He also spoke of how he once gave Ncwane a suit so he could shoot his first CD cover.
“After he had recorded with Tshepo Nzimande he came back to update me on his progress in music. He then said to me he had to shoot a CD cover but he didn’t have clothes to wear. I went home, I took my suit and gave it to him. He wore a suit I gave him for his first CD cover. After he had done the shoot he wanted to give it back. I told him to keep it and he was happy,” Ngubane said.
During his speech Ngubane burst into tears as he recounted the fond memories he had of Ncwane.
Among the speakers was record label owner and Ncwane’s former producer, Nzimande, who helped him record his first album.
He said Ncwane was introduced to him by gospel artist Lundi.
“He asked me to be his producer but I told him straight that no, I would not until he had perfected his craft. I told him what producers needed. He never gave up and came back in 2001.
“He was really passionate about music. I gave him a contract and he recorded songs which became popular,” said Nzimande.
Nzimande also paid tribute to Ncwane’s wife Ayanda for uplifting his brand and staying by his side until the end.
Ayanda, at times inconsolable during the service, sat next to her sons, Ngcweti and Umawenzokuhle.
Among those in attendance were President Jacob Zuma’s wives, Thobeka Madiba Zuma and Nompumelelo Ntuli Zuma; ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize; KZN MEC for Tourism Sihle Zikalala; eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede; Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba’s wife Norma; and Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Bheki Cele and his wife, Thembeka.
Ncwane is survived by his wife and their two children, Ngcweti and Umawenzokuhle, as well as two children from a previous relationship, daughters Mandisa and Sinqobile.