Moses Taiwa Molelekwa

Moses Taiwa Molelekwa (born 17 April 1973 in Tembisa, † February 13, 2001 in Johannesburg) was a South African jazz pianist and music producer.

Life and work

Molelekwa grew up in a musical family; his father had within the jazz scene nicknamed "Monk " because he Thelonious Monk particularly devoted. As a child he learned at home guitar and keyboard, before he had until 1987 piano lessons at the Federal Union of Black Arts, where he graduated with honors and then worked as a professional musician. At first he often played in Kippie 's Jazz Club in Johannesburg, where his responsibilities included Miriam Makeba and Jonas Gwangwa. In 1988 he joined the band of Hugh Masekela. He also toured with Dorothy Masuka and Julian Bahula by the United States. In the early 1990s he founded his own group Brotherhood and Umbongo. 1994 produced Pops Mohamed, his first album, Finding One 's Self, in 1996 both the South Africa Music Award ( SAMA ) for the traditional and the contemporary jazz received and it opened an international career. For his second album, Genes and Spirits (1997), which was also awarded a SAMA, he brought Flora Purim and Chucho Valdés. Twice performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival and at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. In 2000, he was with the pianist Joanna MacGregor on tour in the UK. He was also involved in productions of Sipho Gumede and Rene McLean. As a record producer he worked with Sibongile Khumalo and with members of the Kwaitogruppe Tkzee.

Molelekwa was hanged found strangled next to his wife Florence Flo Mthobo on 13 February 2001.