The local music industry was saddened by the news of the lauded bassist’s death in October.
The concert will feature artists such as Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, Pops Mohamed, B-Traq, Laurie Levine, Riaan van Rensburg, Sez Adamson, Jeremy Franklin and the Allstars, Kyle Meenehan, The Howlin Shibanski, and Kathy Raven.
The Soweto-born, Joburg-based artist was widely respected by his peers, colleagues, friends and family as a bassist, composer, producer and music director.
At the age of 19, Molekwa began his music studies at Tshwane University of Technology where he majored in bass guitar after he attended Fuba Academy music school.
He later worked as a music producer for C-Ya, musical director for Phinda and other collaborations, and he performed with some of the finest musicians of our time, including Mabuse, Kaolin, Super Queens, Ringo Madlingozi, Frank Opperman, Papa Wemba, and Junga Beez.
Molekwa also performed at music festivals, nightclubs, and performing arts events throughout South Africa, neighbouring countries and Europe, but was most remembered as the bassist for funk-soul group B-Traq.
B-Traq lead singer Farryl Roth said, “Molekwa was not just a great bass player and fellow musician, he was a very dear friend and a mentor to me. [He] believed in our music… He was a positive energy in the band and a deep thinker who shared his views openly and without judgement.”
Molekwa was also a loving father, and after the death of his wife in 2012, he devoted time and energy to raising his three sons.
In honour of his memory, the music community and Molekwa’s friends will hold a benefit concert for his children. The money raised will be placed in an education trust fund.
An ongoing crowd-funding campaign for the trust fund will also be launched at the concert.
The tribute paid to the musician’s memory does not begin and end with the concert. All involved, including The Bassline, the musicians in the line-up, the organisers, Tixsa, the lawyers who set up the trust fund, and the sound crew all contributed their time and services free of charge.
The concert will take place on 8 December at The Bassline, 10 Henry Nxumalo Street, Newtown, at 2pm.
Details: 011 838 9145; www.tixsa.co.za
