After a steamy recording session with world-acclaimed Cuban jazz sensation Omar Sosa in Pretoria last Wednesday, Ntshengedzeni Mamphodo was sure that the doors to perform his mbila music internationally were open. Shortly after the session, the disabled Mamphodo collapsed in his hotel room and was certified dead a few minutes later.

This is a sad end to the precious life of the 73-year-old “father of mbila music”, who was highly respected for his self-taught skills in the world of Venda indigenous music.

Sosa came to South Africa last year as a tourist and met the disabled Mamphodo, who impressed him with his mbila music-playing skills. Sosa was also planning to stage international live performances with Mamphodo in a few months’ time.

At the time of his death, Mamphodo of Lwamondo-Tshivhale near Thohoyandou, was still using the 56-year-old 22-piece mbila instrument that he had made himself in 1960. “As a sculptor who makes walking sticks, wooden spoons and drums, it was easy for me to make my own mbila in 1960. During my spare time, I carve small items that I sell to local people to get some cash,” Mamphodo said in a previous interview with Limpopo Mirror.

He then explained how he started playing the mbila: “My late uncle, Thanyani Mamphodo, was a renowned mbila player way back in the fifties. He would scold and punish me for stealing his mbila while he was away working in the fields. One day in 1957, he returned early and found me playing nice tunes with his mbila, and he finally gave me permission to play his mbila publicly. And the rest is history.”

Mamphodo recorded seven mbila music albums. His first album was recorded at Gallo Recording Studios in Johannesburg in 1970. He was introduced to the studio by the late versatile  Venda music producer, Naphtali Dali. His music still receives massive airplay on Phalaphala FM and community radio stations and it has also been used as background songs for various Venda films.

Family spokesperson Emson Muneri said although they were struggling to cope, they had accepted Ntshengedzeni’s passing on. “The fact that tributes are pouring in from all corners of the country makes us stronger. The old man was an inspiration to both young and old. His contribution in promoting Venda traditional music will never be forgotten.”

Local award winning reggae artist Humbulani Ramagwedzha, who was planning to do a collaboration with Mamphodo, said: “I’m heartbroken. I have been procrastinating about the collaboration and now the old man is gone. Despite this, he will always remain my role model and I will continue to sing in Tshivenda to honor him.”

The chairperson of the Limpopo Disability Forum and seasoned musician, Rapson Rambuwani, said Mamphodo was an inspiration to disabled people in Limpopo. “We pay special tribute to this multiple-award-winning hero who defied all odds, despite his disability. A sculptor of note, Mamphodo could also thatch roofs, do gardening, fetch wood in the mountains, cross the river and did not depend on other people for survival. We will miss his special talent as a great musician.”

Mamphodo will be buried at 06:00 at Lwamondo Tshivhale tomorrow (Saturday). A memorial service takes place today (Friday) at the Calvary Christian Church Lwamondo at 12:00.