Kids of beloved maskandi legend Dumisile Mthalane were encouraged not to let her multi-award-winning group, Imithente, die after her death.
Dumisile (61), popularly known by her maiden surname KaManana, was laid to rest at her home at Emakhabeleni near Greytown, KZN on Sunday, 4 May.
Her funeral service was attended by different people including top musicians, top politicians, traditional leaders and event organizers.
Singing Imithente hit songs and dancing was the order of the day during her funeral service that was also attended by Ukhozi FM presenters, Tshatha Ngobe, Vusizwe Langa, Bingelela Mpanza and Mdonso Ngcobo.
Top musicians including Khuzani Mpungose, Thokozani Langa, Buselaphi Gxowa, Big Zulu, Bahubhe, Mbuzeni Mkhize, Ntencane, Falabo, Siya Ntuli and many more attended the funeral.
Dumisile, who was also proudly a loyal member of IFP and close to the late IFP founder Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, passed away on Sunday, 27 April.
IFP leadership including IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa, who is also Cogta minister, attended the funeral while Prince Mangosuthu’s son Prince Zuzifa Buthelezi and IFP KZN chairperson Thami Ntuli, who is also KZN premier, attended the funeral.
Almost all speakers who took the podium encouraged the children to keep the popular group alive like their mother did.
Dumisile was praised for keeping the group alive after her two co-founders passed on in 2010 and another co-founder Buselaphi Gxowa started her solo career.
Simosakhe Mthalane, who was co-founder and lead guitarist, passed on in 2010 as well as Nokwazi Ntuli who was also co-founder passed in the same year.
Despite that, Dumisile recruited her children into the group and the group survived to a point where it scooped a Sama award in 2016.
Dumisile’s son Hlanganani Mthalane and daughter Lungile Mthalane, who are members of Imithente, committed that they will keep the group alive and asked for support from music lovers.
Hlanganani said they are still heartbroken that their mother is no more, but they hope that divine intervention will heal them.
“Imithente will still go on as we are having 15 members. We will work on the new work and unveil it. We are asking for the support,” he said.
Legendary musician Thokozani Langa said they worked closely with Dumisile and asked the kids not to allow the group to die in their hands as their mother refused to let it die in her hands.
KZN premier Thami Ntuli said although they knew that she was not well, they hoped that she was going to get well.
