Kwaku ngoMvulo, ngomhla we-26 kweyeKhala ngonyaka ka2004, ngethuba ingqanga kumculo weJazz, uSipho Gumede, esutywa kukufa emva kwengulo emfutshane. Wazalelwa kwindawo eyaziwa ngeCato Manor eThekwini kwiphondo lakwaZulu-Natal, ngowe-17 kuTshazimpuzi ka1952.
UGumede waqala nokudlala isigingci sakhe esenzelwe ekhaya. Wangena kwiqela lomculo eseminyaka ilishumi elinesithandathu, kungekudala nje, wazakhela udumo. Kwikhondo lakhe lokucula, uGumede wakhupha amacwecwe alishumi elinesibhozo phantsi kwegama lakhe, amane ewenze ngethuba ekwiqela lakhe iSakhile, nawayisungula noKhaya Mahlangu noMabi Gabriel Thobejane – baze baduma ngengoma ethi “Mantombi.” UGumede washicilela waze wacula noTimmy Thomas, Kippie Moeketsi, Stimela, Margaret Singane, Abdullah Ibrahim, Winston Mankunku, Hugh Masekela, Brenda Fassie, Caiphus Semenya noLetta Mbulu. Ukhenkethe ilizwe laseMelika noHarry Belafonte kunye noMbulu, waze ngonyaka ka1992 waphumelela imbasa ye-OKTV kwibakala le-Best African Fusion Album ngecwecwe lakhe elithi “Thank you for Listening”.
Ngeminyaka yoo-1990, uGumede wacula kunye noPaul Hanmer, Andy Narell, Wayne DeLano noManny Rodriquez. Phakathi kweengoma aziwa nesi nokumkhumbula ngazo uGumede, ziingoma ezifana no-When Days Are Dark Friends Are Few, Alone in A Strange Place, Gabriel’ s Garden, Godfather Special, Fikiswa, Blues for my Mother, New Era kwanezinye ezininzi.
Ngonyaka ka-2000, uSipho wabuyela KwaZulu-Natal, nalapho wafundisa umculo ekwatsholozela nabantu abaselula kwiilokishi zalapho.
Siyawubulela umzila kwanelifa osishiye nalo nto kaGumede!
BUKELA – Usuku lwenkululeko: Izimvo zabantu