Musician Prince Kupi died with his wife in a car accident on June 7. His nephew, the young poet Maakomele Manaka, pays tribute to his deceased uncle.
Although he played the guitar from the age of 15, it was not his instrument of choice. He initially played classical piano until he was introduced to the guitar by his informal teacher, Rankitseng Ramela. His debut album titled Loxion, released in 2002, was dedicated to his teacher.
He played with The Brown Rock band from Mozambique and was influenced by the sound of George Benson and local guitarists Jimmy Dludlu, Selaelo Selota and Louis Mhlanga.
Loxion was produced by international steel-drum master Andy Narell who, with his own musical history, understood Kupi’s love of Caribbean and Latin sounds.
In 2001 Kupi won The Old Mutual Jazz Encounters Award for best jazz soloist in the Johannesburg region and The Standard Bank Young Artist Award.
Here, in this extract, his nephew, the young poet Maakomele Manaka, pays tribute to his deceased uncle.
7th of June
He of the moon was born
With music on his tongue
Food for the soul,
And so he played on.
I am only five years of age
And already I have tasted loss
A musician whose grief turned into anger and rage
Listen to the notes I recite.
I have mastered my father’s art,
He will forever remain my aunt’s baby
But today I am your child.
At this untimely hour of separation,
Listen to my music,
Because I am the King who lullabied eternal melodies
Of tomorrow’s sunshine in the tiny ears of my Prince.
So fear not my departure,
Because, ‘We are the living link, the African Heritage,
We do not fear death we celebrate it.
The fear of death is the fear of life,
Thus the dead are not dead.