IT WILL START with the burial first at 8am, followed by the funeral service of the late Ladysmith Black Mambazo, uMdletshe Albert Mazibuko (77), who died last week in the hospital, after a short illness.
This was revealed by his brother at the memorial service held at CFCI in Berea Durban yesterday.
U– Abednigo Mazibuko, who sang in Mambazo before retiring, said that his brother told him that he wanted to be hidden from them in Ntabamhlophe, Estcourt.
He said that due to the laws of the place where the burial will take place, they have arranged for the funeral to begin in the morning and then at 9 o’clock there will be a service which will be held at Mtshezi High School, Estcourt on Saturday morning.
“The place where he will be hidden has very strict rules, so we will start by hiding him in the morning and then there will be a service that will be accompanied by different speakers,” said Mazibuko.
He said his brother was a loving person, who supported each other a lot in the things people did.
“My brother was very loving, kind and good. He was a supportive person in whatever he did and he did everything with the same spirit. He supported Mshengu and did everything he said as Mshengu’s goal was for the music and the band to be popular in all areas, they really did that together, until Mshengu believed, they followed this path and he finally believed,” explained Mazibuko.
He thanked people for their support during this difficult time, and said that the support they received was very humbling.
Enos Phungula, one of the senior members of this group, said that he was nervous to speak at Mazibuko’s service, but what he is happy about is that he went his distance and finished it.
“He finished his career in music as he left it when he wanted to. We were still singing, he would come even when he was sick but he dedicated himself to everything he did. He left this group when he is old. Thank you guys from Mshengu for keeping the group alive, even if you don’t let it die,” he said.
Mazibuko’s son Nhlanhla also testified to the speakers who had spoken before him, saying that his father raised them with love.
“My father used to send us cards with messages and music from overseas. In all the countries he visited, he used to send us cards telling us how much he loved us. My father used to say that when he would call on the phone a long time ago, at four o’clock in the afternoon, there would be a waiting line to talk to him, and he would tell us how much he loved us and tell us to behave. This meant a lot to us,” said Nhlanhla.
Sibongiseni Tshabalala, said that everything has been said about Mazibuko and said that what they are grateful for is the time they had with him, which was a good time leading them as their father.
He said that even if their father had sinned, he would not punish them in a harsh way as he told them that he grew up being beaten so he lived with them and showed them. The program of the service was conducted by Khozi FM broadcaster Phindi P, and there were performances by different groups of people who are expected to continue in the funeral service.
Then there were also religious singers including Sgwili, Ayanda Ntanzi and others.