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"Funeral cash clash!" – Daily Sun

"Rival muthi men make a mockery of memorial" – front page lead, August 3 2015

Daily Sun (August 3 2015) - TENS OF thousands of mourners crowded the hills of Umsinga yesterday to pay tribute to Indidane, the late king of maskandi.

But on Friday, the memorial service deteriorated into a public money-war between inyangas Bhaka and Andile.

THEY THREW DOWN PILES OF MONEY TO PROVE WHO LOVED INDIDANE THE MOST!

The chaos started when South African Traditional Music Achievement Awards founder Dumisani Goba gave Zamokwakhe “Bhaka” Nzama and Andile Dlamini a chance to contribute publicly towards the funeral costs of maskandi legend, Mtshengiseni “Indidane” Gcwensa.

Speaking at the memorial service at eThekwini Community Church in Durban, Goba said:

“I want to see which muthi man has the most money to contribute to the funeral,” 
Goba said.

“And if one rival has put money down, the other can come back on stage to put down more.”

First Bhaka, the man who had a brief and stormy fling with Kelly Khumalo, came on stage and put down R3 600.

“Goba, if you are talking about Bhaka, you are talking about a man with money,” he said.

Then Dlamini, with R200 notes all over his clothes, came on stage and put down R4 000.

Then Bhaka came back on stage, dropped another R2 700 and shouted: “Ubani uBhaka?”

The excited crowd roared, “You are Bhaka!”

Chaos followed as people pushed each other out of the way and climbed onto chairs to see the money fight.

Church elders shouted that people must respect the service. A voice in the audience shouted at the muthi men: “This is not about you! This is about Indidane!”

But they weren’t ready to stop the battle. Dlamini got back on stage and put down another R3 000.

When Bhaka went back on stage Goba stopped the craziness.

“I didn’t realise this would turn out like this. Please let us contribute privately off stage,” he said.

Bhaka ran off stage pulling notes out of his pockets and started throwing money to the mourners, causing even more chaos in the church.

“Goba, please don’t feel sorry for me. I have lots of money. You can’t stop me now!” he shouted.

Dignity was finally restored and the memorial service was officially closed by Pastor Vusi Dube.

Umngeni Village in Umsinga, KZN, came to a standstill yesterday.

Stationary cars stood near Indidane’s home with many playing his Diona at full volume.

Marshals managed to avoid a stampede as a crowd of fans pushed forward to touch his coffin.

Indidane’s daughter, Ncedi Gcwensa (18), said: “To the children he was not a celebrity. He was our loving father.”

Indidane made 26 albums.

Indidane’s uncle, Mlindeni Gcwensa: “He earned the respect of the whole village from his good deeds.”

Fellow musician, Khathalani Ngubane said: “He was like a brother to me.”

Amantshontsho KaMaskandi awards founder Mlamuli Nxele said: “Indidane won four awards. He was special.”

Indidane died last Wednesday after a long struggle with asthma and TB.

See the Daily Sun’s new website for more on this and other stories....

 

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