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Stimela’s Lloyd Lelosa to be laid to rest on Thursday in Johannesburg

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One of the core founders of the Afro-fusion band Stimela, who passed away last week, will be buried at Vosloorus in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Lloyd Lelosa died after a long illness aged 66. Lelosa was amongst the first legendary members of Stimela who played a major role in the establishment of the group.

Stimela was established in 1970 by guitarist Ray Phiri, drummer Isaac “Mnca” Mtshali, keyboard player Lloyd Lelosa and bassist Jabu Sibumbe.

Phiri and Mtshali came from a group called The Cannibals while Lelosa and Sibumbe came from The movers.

In 1975 The Cannibals worked with vocalist Jacob ” Mpharanyana” Radebe until his passing. The band continued after Mpharanyane’s passing and later changed the name to Stimela.

Lelosa passed on after a long illness since he was wheelchair-bound. He stopped playing in the band some few years ago due to ill health. Current Stimela’s lead singer Sam Ndlovu says he is part of Stimela because of Lelosa and the other legends who came before.  This is how Ndlovu remembers Lelosa.

“Many musicians play keyboards, guitars whatever you may choose but they hardly get to a point where they acquired or establish their own voice. Lloyd has established his own voice, the country has lost, he may not be involved that much anymore in terms of playing due to ill health but he still had a lot to offer,” Sam Ndlovu explains.

Hit songs

The group Stimela was known for its hit songs including “Where did we go wrong, Whispers in The Deep and Zwakala. The group has acclaimed international standards and demands.

Its lead singer Ray Phiri passed on in 2017 after battling lung cancer. Mtshali died in 2019. Ndlovu says Stimela is a project and it has to continue with its legacy.

“Deep in our minds, deep in my mind, personally based on the conversation that I have been having with him even during his last days he wanted the band to go on. I know Isaac “Mca” Mtshali would want the band to go on and I know Ray “Chikapa” Phiri would want the band to go on – that’s why he wrote Singajiki Majita. I know Nana Coyote would want the band to go on, I know Charlie Ndlovu would want the band to go on, when they said Stimela is an Institution they meant that it’s going to chuck out a breed that would carry it on. When they said Singajindi Majita, they said the road is long and thorny and a new day is donning. Those words are what should drive the process from this point onwards,” Ndlovu adds.

Lelosa will be laid to rest on Thursday at Vosloorus in Johannesburg.

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