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Musa Manzini’s family raising funds for the renowned bassist’s burial
The celebrated jazz musician passed away on Monday after suffering a fatal seizure.
Musa Manzini’s family has launched a fundraiser for his burial. Picture: Instagram/musamanzini
“It’s sad that we have to fundraise for legends, it’s very sad,” Musa Manzini’s manager Mark Roth tells The Citizen.
The manager, together with the late musician’s family decided to raise funds for Manzini’s burial because of the scarcity of funds.
Manzini died at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg on Monday, and will be laid to rest this weekend in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
“He was a member of Samro (Southern African Music Rights Organisation) and we are expecting some funds from them. I can’t confirm the exact amount as we’re still busy with the paper work. But whatever we get from them will cover the cost of taking his body to KZN” said Roth.
Roth confirmed to The Citizen that the jazz musician’s body is still at the morgue in Gauteng and is expected to go down to KZN this week, ahead of the funeral on Saturday.
A journey of multiple surgeries
“The family is coping. It’s not easy because Musa had his first tumour in 2006,” says Roth.
Manzini was first hospitalised with a malignant brain tumour in 2006. Subsequent to the surgery, he had six more craniotomies – three to remove the tumour and three to deal with the hydrocephalus, an accumulation of fluid on the brain. Epilepsy and seizures are common complications of craniotomies.
Roth has organised fundraisers for a number of artists over the years, including Pops Mohamed’s fundraising campaign to save the Rainbow Restaurant and Jazz Club in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The last fundraiser I did for Musa was in 2021, when he had his last surgery,” Roth said.
True to his incessant dedication to his artistry, in 2018 Manzini made headlines when he remained wide awake playing his guitar while undergoing a craniotomy operation.
“They put me to sleep and then drilled my skull open. Once my brain was exposed, I woke up and played my guitar,” he told News24 after his surgery.
“No matter the condition he was in, we never talked about death,” says Roth, who has been Manzini’s manager since 2006 when he suffered his first brain tumour. But the two have known each other for many years as Roth was Manzini’s sound engineer as well.
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Remembering Musa Manzini
Roth says most of his conversations with Manzini were about government’s ineptness.
“He liked to complain about the government and that the ANC isn’t doing its job,” Roth recalls.
The manager remembers times when Manzini’s condition was so bad, sometimes he couldn’t even talk to him on the phone or when he would visit him, they would sometimes sit in silence. Manzini was also the musical composer of Generations and Backstage.
“The weekend before last we talked. The last conversation I had with him he spoke about wanting to get back on stage. We talked to each other on a weekly basis. I received the call on Monday morning around five past seven about his passing” shares Roth.
Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse was one of the many who were taken aback by the muso’s passing. “Oh no man, this is soooo, so sad what a tragedy. I guess he is now at peace from his affliction. Thank you Musa for sharing your gift with us. South Africa is poorer condolences to your family,” wrote Mabuse on his Twitter.
Kaya FM DJ Nicky Blumenfeld also passed her condolences and encouraged people to contribute to the fundraiser.
“By now you’re probably aware that yesterday saw the passing one of our great artists Musa Manzini. If you are able to contribute towards his funeral and burial, please see official details below,” wrote Blumenfeld.
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A memorial is expected to be held at Durban’s BAT Centre this Friday, but Manzini’s Jourg fans will be able to bid him farewell on his birthday at the end of the month.
“We’re planning a memorial concert for him on his birthday. We’re planning on hosting it at the Joburg Theatre. I want him to be celebrated as the king he was,” confirms Roth.
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