Kwaito legend Sandile ‘Mapaputsi’ Ngwenya’s memorial and funeral services have been announced.
The Izinja hitmaker died on Friday; his family announced that the musician died due to an undisclosed illness.
“The family of the South African Kwaito legend Sandile Ngwenya, popularly known as Mapaputsi, are saddened to confirm to the media and public the passing of their son.”
“Mapaputsi met his untimely death in the late hours of Thursday, 5 September 2024, after a short illness.”
The Kwaito musician’s memorial service will be held on 12 September at 14:00 at the Eyethu Hall, Mofolo, Soweto. The funeral service will be on 14 September at 08:00 at Dlamini Multipurpose Centre Hall.
His debut album Izinja secured him Best Kwaito Artist and Best Kwaito Song at the Metro FM Awards in 2002 and Best Kwaito Song and Best Music Video accolades at the SA Music Awards in 2003.
Speaking about his hit single Izinja, he said it changed his life.
“I reached gold before the CD was out. The demand was so high, and all these record labels were denying my thing. After the song blew up, they all came running,” he said on the King David Podcast.
He released two other albums: Still Barking and Last Man Standing.
Mapaputsi credited late gospel musician Vuyo Mokoena and late radio presenter DJ Khabzela as the people who believed in him. After familiarising himself with the inner workings of music through dabbling in Gospel, he started working on carving a path in Kwaito, working with the likes of TKZee and Chiskop.
