Legendary musician Pops Mohamed dies aged 76

Legendary music icon, Pops Mohamed, born Ismail Mohamed-Jan, has died at the age of 76, leaving behind a powerful legacy that forever shaped the country’s music landscape.

He died on Thursday, December 4, but the cause of his death has not yet been revealed.

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie expressed his sadness at the passing of the renowned musician. 

“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,” McKenzie said.

He was born on December 10, 1949 in Benoni, Gauteng. Mohamed built a musical career spanning more than five decades. 

Widely known as the “Minister of Music,” he 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 and keyboard, fusing traditional African sounds with jazz, kwela, soul, world music and contemporary influences. 

Over his career, he made significant contributions to preserving and evolving African musical heritage, travelling widely to perform and conduct workshops across South Africa, Europe, Asia and beyond.

Mohamed’s work was recognised by his peers and the broader arts community. 

In 2023, he received the South African Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating decades of dedication to the country’s music industry and his role as a pioneer in promoting traditional and contemporary African music. 

In 2010, he was awarded the Arts & Culture Trust Lifetime Achievement Award for his exceptional and lasting impact on South Africa’s arts and culture.

Among his landmark achievements was the album Ancestral Healing, which won the third annual FNB SAMA Award for Best Traditional Performance, introducing traditional African sounds to global jazz and world music audiences.

SAMRO also paid tribute to Mohamed, noting he “challenged boundaries of race, genre and tradition, devoting his life to blending African jazz and indigenous sounds with global influences.” 

The organisation said he leaves behind a rich catalogue of more than 20 albums and a lasting legacy of mentorship, creative freedom and musical unity.

McKenzie extended his condolences to Mohamed-Jan’s family, the many artists he mentored, and all South Africans mourning the monumental loss. Messages of sympathy have been pouring in since his death.

Details of his memorial and funeral services have not yet been announced.

IOL