By Staff Reporter
info@alexreporter.co.za
The African National Congress (ANC) is deeply saddened by the untimely passing of opera singer and Jazz music legend, Mama Sibongile Khumalo.
The ANC paid tribute through its a statement released shortly after the news of her passing surfaced
The Soweto Songbird passed on 28 January 2021 at the age of 63 following stroke-related complications.
Mama Sibongile’s hits such as Mayihlome and Thula Mama are some of the tracks that dominated music charts for a long time.
Her decades-long singing career has touched the hearts of thousands of fans across South Africa and beyond.
She has performed with many celebrated groups and artists and has graced many occasions, including former President Nelson Mandela’s 75th birthday and 1994 inauguration.
She also led the South African and New Zealand national anthems at the World Cup rugby final in 1995.
Khumalo was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver by the Presidency for her excellent contribution to the development of South African art and culture in the musical fields of jazz and opera.
“We join the nation in paying tribute to this music legend who became a beacon of hope and who inspired many artists and individuals in our country.
“We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and fans. May they find solace in knowing that their loss is the nation’s loss,” said the statement.
The PAC of Azania also expressed its deepest sorrow on this, the sad occassion of the passing of a celebrated musical artist of our land.
According to PAC’s statement,Khumalo was, from birth surrounded by a very high quality of music, both at home and outside the home.
Her father, Khabi Mngoma was a Professor of Music.
She was also a part of the groups of children who would receive musical mentoring from the Mothopeng family duo of PAC president ‘Uncle Zeph’ and his wife Urbania.
“The music lessons were often also a smokescreen for political education.
“The Pan Africanist influence permeates itself clearly in some of her lyrics – in which she refers to Azania and not South Africa.
“She sang in the acclaimed song ‘Untold Stories’ “Kgalema Azania, kgalema Namibia, Kgalema, Zimbabwe..She continued to sing “ha e rage ha e tiye, ha e kgaole, ha e hlome, ha e hule, ha e lwane ya Azania..!”
The PAC says Khumalo also featured on a song named ‘Azania’ by the rapper Reason.
“In a well deserved poem penned in 2015 and dedicated to her, Jaki Seroke, PAC Secretary for Information and PR wrote “Sing blackbird, healer of the solitude nightingale of the walking wounded, noble daughter of the soil, soar and singma Mngoma.
“Jazz it up with sojourner truth Mama Ella Princess Magogo ka Dinizulu..”