Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
Nearly a month after the death of his mentor and producer Babongile Sikhonjwa, South Africa-based Afro-Jazz musician Otis Ngwabi says he is still struggling to come to terms with the loss of his dear friend and creative partner.
Sikhonjwa, a celebrated media personality, producer, and arts promoter, died on September 21, 2025, at the age of 49.
Sharing his emotions in a heartfelt Facebook post, Ngwabi posted a video of himself performing Molo Ntombi, a song he co-wrote and produced with Sikhonjwa in the early 2000s.
“This song, Molo Ntombi, reminds me of all the good times and happy memories I had with Babongile. I remember that after finishing our first recording, he suggested we drive to a venue in Bulawayo to promote our first song, ‘Ndiwe’.
“On our way, he played me this instrumental, and that’s when we both went wild creating Molo Ntombi,” Ngwabi wrote.
Ngwabi fondly recalled their early days spent in Sikhonjwa’s yellow Datsun, which doubled as both transport and mobile studio during their humble beginnings.
“Most of our time and humble beginnings were spent in that yellow Datsun creating music. May his soul continue resting in peace,” he said.
Sikhonjwa’s influence on Ngwabi’s artistic journey was profound. Their creative partnership helped shape Ngwabi’s sound and solidified his foundation in Afro-Jazz, a genre that has since carried him beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
Though gone, Sikhonjwa’s legacy lives on through the artists he mentored, the music he produced, and the lives he touched in the creative community.
