Celebrating the life and legacy of Pops Mohamed, South Africa's musical visionary

Tributes continue to pour in for “The Minister of Music” Pops Mohamed, who died at the age of 75 on Thursday after dedicating his life to creating music and becoming a significant figure in South Africa’s musical landscape.

Mohamed, born Ismail Mohamed-Jan in Benoni, Gauteng, on December 10, 1949, built a musical legacy that spanned more than five decades.

The music stalwart was a masterful multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and cultural custodian.

He played a remarkable array of instruments, including the kora, mbira, African mouth bow, didgeridoo, guitar, keyboard, and more, fusing traditional African sounds with jazz, kwela, soul, world music, and contemporary influences.

Mohamed's passing is a profound loss not just for the music community, but for the very soul of South African arts and culture, according to Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie.

McKenzie lauded Mohamed as a “guardian of our cultural heritage”.

“Pops Mohamed was not merely a musician but a guardian of our cultural heritage, a teacher, a visionary. His music carried the voices of our ancestors and opened doors for new generations to embrace and celebrate our roots. His accolades reflect not only his talent but his lifelong devotion to preserving African identity through sound.”

Minister McKenzie extended his heartfelt condolences to the Mohamed-Jan family, to the many artists he mentored, and to all South Africans who mourn this monumental loss.

The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) said Mohamed was a “visionary” who challenged boundaries of race, genre, and tradition, and devoted his life to blending African jazz, indigenous sounds, and global influences.

“He leaves behind a rich catalogue of more than 20 albums and a lasting legacy of musical unity, mentorship, and creative freedom.”

SAFTU’s General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said Mohamed was one of the country’s most talented yet “criminally underrated” jazz musicians.

“SAFTU lowers its banners in honour of Pops Mohamed — a cultural giant, a guardian of indigenous sound, a bridge between generations, and a man whose music carried the soul of this nation. His passing is a deep loss to South Africa’s artistic and spiritual heritage. May his music live on. May his spirit continue to inspire.”

The ANC said throughout his remarkable career, Mohamed used culture as a force for unity, healing, and social understanding.

The party said Mohamed embodied the transformative role of the arts in shaping consciousness, fostering social cohesion, and telling the stories of the people with “honesty and beauty”.

“His collaborations — spanning jazz, traditional African music, and global fusion — demonstrated the power of creativity to transcend boundaries and uplift humanity. In doing so, he contributed significantly to building a society rooted in identity, dignity, and shared heritage, values that lie at the heart of our democratic project.”

South African record producer, sound engineer, and musician, Matthew Fink, said over the past two years, they had become close working together in the studio remastering Mohamed’s extensive back catalogue, preserving his legacy.

“Known for integrating traditional African sounds with contemporary jazz, Pops was as much a music historian as he was a celebrated artist and producer.”

The Recording Industry of South Africa said Mohamed’s presence brought calm, wisdom, and warmth to every room he entered.

“Through his hands lived the voices of our ancestors, and through his heart shone a humility and grace rare in our time.”

Among his many landmark achievements, Mohamed produced the album Ancestral Healing, which won the 3rd annual FNB SAMA Award for Best Traditional Performance, a milestone that helped introduce traditional African sounds to global jazz and world music audiences.

He significantly contributed to preserving and evolving African musical heritage through extensive travel, performance, and workshops in South Africa, Europe, Asia, and beyond, introducing indigenous African music globally.

He received the South African Music Awards (SAMA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 for his pioneering work in African music and the Arts & Culture Trust Lifetime Achievement Award (ACT Lifetime Achievement Award) in 2010 for his lasting impact on South African arts and culture.

karen.singh@inl.co.za