From an article published in the Mail & Guardian, Johannesburg, South Africa.
TBGB says: Mokoena’s death is a tragic loss for the South African gospel community. For anyone unfamiliar with the South African gospel scene, Mokoena, Rebecca Malope and Sizwe Zako are the equivalent in prominence and popularity to America’s Kirk Franklin, Vickie Winans and Yolanda Adams. Pure Magic albums from the 1990s are superb examples of South African gospel: exquisite harmonies joyfully sung and hypnotic repetition that builds in intensity to boiling pitch. Imagine the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo with a Pentecostal beat.
23 May 2008 01:29
Award-winning gospel star Vuyo Mokoena has died, his record company, Big Fish Music, confirmed on Friday.
According to Big Fish Music, Mokoena died at 5.30am on Friday.
Mokoena was admitted to hospital after experiencing blinding headaches. Tests subsequently revealed that he had developed a brain tumour.
Before making an impact in the late 1990s, Mokoena was known as gospel diva Rebecca Malope’s associate until he decided to embark on a solo career.
He began his music career with amateur Afro-pop group Melodi in Springs on the East Rand. He then became a professional musician, joining popular group Pure Magic in the 1990s.
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) national chairperson Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi expressed sadness at the death of Mokoena.
“Today I am truly sad. Vuyo Mokoena was like a brother to me. He was a fantastic person. He was a great entertainer. He was an unashamed member and friend of the IFP. He will be truly missed.”
She said Mokoena’s family could be proud in the knowledge that he had lived out his calling.
“His Christian faith was the foundation of all he did. He was a great inspiration to all of us in the IFP.” — Sapa
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Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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May your soul rest in Peace Vuyo. u were such a wonderful person. your music has changed a lot of people’s life. God loves you thats why he has taken u away from the pains. you’ll be missed.
You are going to be missed!!!! I loved his songs.. when he sang songs he sang them with passion…
I know you are in heaven.
A truly gifted singer and servant of the Lord. Pole for the painful loss to his family and fans across the globe.
MAI UR SOUL REST IN PEACE WE WIL OLWAYZ LV U VUYO Y WERE MI ROL MODEL.
U R SADLY MISSED BY UR FANS
REST IN PEACE VUYO…. YOU WERE MY TRUE ROLE MODEL,AM GONNA MISS U A LOT.EVERYTIME I LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC MY LIFE CHANGES.MAY DA LORD PROTECT UR WIFE AND FOUR CHILDREN AND ALSO COMFORT ALL THE FANS AND FRIENDS MORESPECIALLY SIPHO AND JABU….VUYO S DEATH IS A SHOCK TO ME I DID’NT EVEN KNOW ABOUT HIS SICKNESS…OH MY GOD! I BELIEVE DA LORD WILL SUSTAIN ME THROGHOUT.
I never beleive a man with a great and anoited voice this early.but i thank God that vuyo played and released his pontential to the fullest. i really loved his music and the way he lived,and he changed my life a lot.i beleive he’s in a better place. from james Ramachela.
this goes to Vuyo’s wife from his Namibian fan, be strong in the Lord & in the power of is might, your husband really edify us in his music performances although we did not understand the language his zizt for music encouraged me to sing on for the Lord Bertha Keis, Namibia
the gospel world lost a great sing man!
but we believe: you are with ower God father and the Lord JESUS CHRIST!!!
so, dear Vuyo rest in peace! we cry for earth body, but… we rejoce with your heavenly body that you won thrught ower LOR JESUS CHRIST!!!
u allways will be in ower lifes thrugt your good musics and words you said… please God keep vuyo’s wife and sons, all family, friends and funs… specialy Rebecca Mallope… i love this beautyfull Lady and sister!!! God bless you Rebecca, and keep sing for HIM!!! rejoicing ower souls and heart!!!
you are the best!
well we cry because ower brother vuyo loss the earth body… but the saime time we rejoice for hi get a new heavenly body that ower Lord JESUS CHRIST has promiced… let sai: aleluhia, praise God, because vuyo ower brother had get the crown!!! i’m happy for it!!! we can see him if countinue in God’s way!!! aleluhia!!! oooohhh how much GOD IS SO GOOD!!! IHS MERCY INDURE FOREVER!!! REST IN PEACE DEAR VUYO MOKOENA ( PURE MAGIC)
i praise God because one of ower brother goes to the king of king!!!
and now for Vuyo’s wife and all family: remember that song: soon and very soon we are going to see the king… so ower brother get this promise!!! so be cool and strong, God love us!!!
… vuyo leaves us in flesh but hi allways be in ower heart to the day we will find this bennediction get the Lord promises.
i beg God to continue keeping all vuyo family and friends… specially Rebecca Mallope… i love so much this Lady and sister!!! i have said!!!
rest in peace in presence of GOD and ower LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!
Manuel Francisco.
Lisbon/ Portugal
praise for our brother vuyo, i’m very sorry his fisical desapear, but the same time i rejoice because he get the heaven!!! i believe he is now with our Lord JESUS CHRIST!!!
for we can not cry, but rejoice because he is very beter then us!!! he will not feel no pain!!! now he
look the great luck: he will continue singing with all angels of God!!! wonderfull!!! aleluhia!!! thank’s God you have called your son!
rest in peace dear vuyo!!!
we will pray for your family, and i beg, in God to keep your wife and sons and all your family and fans!!! LORD GOD OUR FATHER, PLEASE BLESS VUYO FAMILY, KEEP HES WIFE AND SONS!!!
Manuel Francisco
Lisbon Portugal
Vuyo, you’ll be missed and you may your soul rest in peace; Your way of preaching has changed so many lives and it will still do the same. You are personally gone but you’ll dwell in our body, mind & soul. Rest in peace for God has been always there for you…
Grace
Maputo/Mozambique
Its such a shock only to learn about such a great singer’s death “Vuyo”. I attended all the shows he performed in Zimbabwe and have the collections he did with my sister Rebecca. What a great voice. I will miss you. May his soul rest in peace. What I know is heaven is such a great place thats why all these great people are going to. Imagine, all the muscian who have gone before us singing for the heavens every minute? God is so faithfull all the time.
To his wife, God loves you.
God Bless.
Josephine
Canada
Just learnt about this great guy’s death with shock and pain. South Africa is Blessed with the voices. Learnt also about Lucky Dube who was cruelly killed by lazy men who want to get what they have not earned for. God is a God of justice they will be judged. back to Vuyo. Ndarwadziwa ( Iam hurt) genuinely but God knows the right time for each of us. He knows you needed that rest in His arms.
Our Loss God’s Gain. Praise Him.
Vuyo will be missed.
Zimbawean
UK
I greatly miss you Vuyo..May you continue to rest in peace.You remain my favourite. Much love from Zimbabwe.
you were a true role model to many of us.we were saved by your music. you will forever remain in our hearts for ever god bless you and keep you and your family
i cant believe you are gone bro how l wished to see you at least shake your hand will meet in next life gods angel guide your family
May his soul rest in piece. Though he is no longer with us his music still lives on. It will continue changing a lot of peoples lives.
Where can i get his music?
Evans Tembo/Zambian Fan
Email: [email protected]
what can I say, Vuyo was a good singer and even now that he is gone but we still blessed by his music.
I recognise I came too late!
I watched a His video and I became very interested to know more about He! I Became very sad when knew that He wasn’t with Us!
Keep knowing that You will never die inside of our hearts…
I’m sure with You are on the right side of Lord
Rest in Peace VUYO!..