Babsy Mlangeni will remember his close friend and mentee Steve Kekana for carrying the baton forward from him and showing those living with blindness that the sky is the limit.
Famous for hits such as Take your Love, the legendary musician died on Thursday morning at the age of 62 after Covid-19 complications.
Born in Zebediela, outside Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, Kekana lost his eye sight at the age of five. The father of two, this year celebrated his 33rd wedding anniversary to wife Ntsiki.
“When I started singing in 1963, Steve Kekana was about five years old and when I started recording in 1967 he was about nine years old. When I became famous as a blind person, he asked himself if Babsy Mlangeni can make it, why can’t I?” Mlangeni said.
“What I liked about him is that he wanted to prove that disability is not inability. Even if you are disabled you can became anything you want to be under the sun, as long as you put your mind to it. Kekana achieved a lot and we together proved a lot of people wrong.”
Kekana completed his matric at Siloe School for the Blind, outside Polokwane. He later learnt to be a switchboard operator at Itireleng Training Center at GaRankuwa.
With the help of music producer Tom Vuma of CCP Records, Kekana launched his illustrious music career with songs like Mamsy in 1978.
Mlangeni, also signed to CCP Records, crossing paths with Kekana for the first time.
From there, he became famous, releasing over 40 albums in his career.
Kekana won many accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the SA Music Awards and more than 70 golden disc awards.
He later went back to school to obtain his LLB degree at Tshwane University of Technology and became an advocate.
Kekana last visited Mlangeni while he was in Johannesburg on Wednesday last week.
“He phoned me and asked to spend about four-to-five hours with me at my home in Katlehong. We spoke about our plans for the future and I played him a few tracks that I’d have liked to feature him on. He came out with some ideas too. But little did I know that he was saying goodbye to me,” Mlangeni said.
Fellow musician Sipho “Hotsix” Mabuse said he was shattered by the death of Kekana as he was family since he was married to Mabuse's stepsister Ntsiki.
Mabuse and Kekana performed together one last time on Sunday at Afri Café at Maponya Mall in Soweto.
“It was just an impromptu performance. When I did Burn Out, he came on stage and it wasn’t planned. He was exceptional as always,“Mabuse said.
“I’m shattered that I will not be able to speak to him not only through music but as a family member. We would talk at family meetings and we were like-minded peers.
“He did not allow his affliction to be a determination for how he advanced himself in life. It’s exemplary and many young musicians can learn from that irrespective of whatever challenge they may have. Steve was a great role model for this country.”
Yvonne Chaka Chaka also remembered their last encounter at the DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards where they performed together last year just before the global pandemic.
“Hotsix and Joe Nina were also there. We not only shared the stage but backstage, we shared a change room. It was just laughter all the way,” Chaka Chaka said.
“He’s one person that has always encouraged me to better myself by studying further.”
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