Choir legend, Annah Fifi Mabuza, remembered by those who loved her
Tributes have been pouring in for Masibuyele KuJehova lead singer, Annah Fifi Mabuza.
She passed away on August 26 at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria after a long illness.
“She has been critically ill for the past three months, but this comes after a long time of her complaining of some sharp pain in her body which we were hoping she will recover from,” said Fakazi Dlamini, the group’s manager.
According to Dlamini, Mabuza was one of the founding members of Masibuyele KuJehova in 1988.
“The choir was founded by a group of women who used to meet and pray together, with Mabuza as the lead singer. They recorded 18 albums,” he said. Mabuza had no children of her own but adopted so many children who referred to her as a mum.
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“I will always remember her strong and unshakeable faith. She always gave us hope even in hopeless situations. Even in her hospital bed she told me not to worry as she was hoping to come back to praise the Lord with the rest of the members,” added Dlamini.
MEC Thandi Shongwe, of the Department of Sports, Culture and Recreation, sent her condolences to the Mabuza family, relatives and fans. “I am devastated by her passing. She was such a talented musician whose voice touched and healed many souls. She will be missed sorely.
Mabuza’s death came at a time when the country is faced with a pandemic that has negatively affected artists. I assure all of you that you are not alone in your grief. Your loss is our loss. You are in our prayers and thoughts at this very sad time,” said Shongwe.
Elphaes Nhlabathi, the chairperson of the Mpumalanga Creative Workers Union, said, “ I am heartbroken and emotionally unstable about the passing of Mabuza.
The country has lost a mother, sister, soul doctor, comrade, preacher and nation builder in the creative industry. As a province, we were blessed to have such a soul who led the group till the last day of her life.
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The choir lifted the flag of the province in the gospel music fraternity and their music inspired the young the old.
Mabuza made history by following in the footsteps of the late Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Ray Chikapa Phiri of Stimela”.
A popular blogger, Sonwabile Sox Ntsintsi, and his group paid a tribute by sharing a video of them singing the group’s song “Imvusulelo enkulu iyeza”, which trended on social media from Sunday.
