“People are equal. Musicians, like cooks and singers and dancers and lovers, are not. That’s just how it is. Most lyricists offer little in the way of new concepts, or new ways of appreciating the world. But some people bring new meaning into the world. They stop, even if for a moment, the squandering of life.”
These were the words of Motlapele Morule, close friend of the late music legend Jabulani Tsambo, commonly known as HHP or Hip Hop Pantsula, during the recent inaugural memorial lecture held at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng.
Commemorating the late muso’s legacy on 14 September, which would have been his 39th birthday, event organiser Mo Molemi and the Tsambo family explained that the lecture with the title “Omang” aimed to celebrate his life. Omang was also the title of HPP’s debut album that was released in September 2003.
Dr Kea Modimeng, acting chairperson of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, was the keynote speaker, alongside Terry Tsambo, the late musician’s mother, who is also a composer and children’s book author, as well as a former academic at the university. They were joined by his two younger sisters and his son, Leano.
"HHP’s support for various movements, including the fees must fall and his daraja movement advocating for a borderless Africa, are but a few of the attributes that made up the man we all got to know as Hip Hop Pantsula,” said Dr Modimoeng.
Throughout his illustrious career, HHP released five studio albums, including his award-winning and widely successful second album, Acceptance Speech, that was released in 2007.
Dr Kea Modimoeng was the keynote speaker at the inaugural memorial lecture celebrating the life of the late music legend Jabulani Tsambo, commonly known as HHP or Hip Hop Pantsula.
