By: Natasha Archary
There wasn’t a dry eye in sight as Kabelo Mabalane bid farewell to his fellow TKZee band member and friend Tokollo “Magesh” Tshabalala.
Kabelo’s heartbreaking tribute to Tokollo at his funeral on Friday, 19 August, included a touching recollection of their time together as Kwaito legends.
“The day I met Tokollo my life was impacted, my life changed and it was never, ever to be the same again. Music was always the common denominator in our lives. We would fight, we would be the best of friends, but it was always music that connected us.
Before TKZee, before Mashamplan, there was 2 Slice. 2 Slice was born in 1993. 2 Slice only had one hit that no one ever heard of. I don’t even remember the song but mama gave us R250 for studio time, and the song was about the girls we were in love with at the time.
Tokollo’s passing has made me reflect on the times we spent together as kids when we’d bunk school and spend the day at Tokollo’s house in Fourways. We’d wait for his mom and dad to leave home, and we were not studying I can tell you that much.
That said, TKZee was born out of those moments at the back of Tokollo’s house.”
Kabelo Mabalane paying tribute to his friend Tokollo
Kabelo’s heartbreaking tribute concluded with him thanking Tokollo for believing in him.
“It’s Tokollo that taught me to believe. Tokollo taught me to believe in myself, he saw in me what I didn’t see in myself for the longest time, he saw it from day one.
He taught me how to be brave, he taught me how to be fearless.
Tokollo what a privilege it has been and it still is to have been a passenger in a car that you drove, to be a catalyst that changed the world.”
Tokollo “Magesh” Tshabalala died on Monday, 15 August due to an epileptic seizure. His funeral took place at the Rhema Bible Church in Randburg.
A memorial service for the kwaito legend will be held on Wednesday 24 August at St Stithians Chapel, 3 Chapel Drive, St Stithians College, Lyme Park, Sandton from 14:00 to 17:00.
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