Farewell to a Venda music icon

Hundreds of people gathered at the small village of Tshapasha in Dzimauli outside Thohoyandou the past weekend to pay their last respect to the late Nyelisani George Dzialwa Singo, an icon of Venda traditional music.

Singo, who was a household name among the Vhavenda people after the release of his first and only album, Tshikete (skirt) in the early eighties, passed away at the Donald Frazer Hospital on July 7, at the age of 73, following a short illness.

The album, which contains tracks like Mungana Na Mungana, Tshikete, Tshipengo, Ndo Enda and others, earned Singo celebrity status and his songs are still played on national radio stations every week.

Singo worked in Krugersdorp before he returned to his home in Venda, where he worked as a painter for the Department of Public Works. In 1998 he retired because of illness. Singo, who was at that stage already blind, entertained visitors at his home in Tshapasha with his guitar.

At the time of his death, Singo was busy compiling songs that he wanted to release, a dream that never materialised.

During the funeral service at Tshapasa on July 17, Chief Ndivhuwo Rammbuda (an extended brother) said: "It is disappointing that Singo died as a poor man while being an icon of Venda music. Last week we had a funeral of an old man and the streets were gravelled, because his children are filling good positions in the government. If you listen to the radio, you will hear Singo's songs, but this man died a pauper as he did not make money from his music," Rammbuda said.

"It is high time that South Africans start to respect and honour their heroes while they are still alive, like what the Americans did to the late Michael Jackson," said Rammbuda.

Singo is survived by six children, three girls and three boys, from his wife, Vho-Masindi, as well as eight grandchildren.

He was buried at the sacred burial site of Dzimauli, Matshavhawe, on Friday evening, 17 July, because of his royal status.