INGWAZI yomculo engasekho, uSipho Gumede, izokhunjulwa edilini le-jazz elizokuba seBat Centre, eThekwini ngo-Ephreli 17 kusukela ngo6 ntambama. Lolu wusuku okwazalwa ngalo lo mculi obezohlanganisa kulo nyaka iminyaka ewu-59 njengoba azalwa ngo1952.
Umgqugquzeli walo mcimbi, uNise Malange, uthe lo mcimbi bawuqondanise nokuphela kweminyaka engu-17 ahamba emhlabeni. “Umcimbi owacelwa nguye uSipho esaphila ngesikhathi bedlala neSakhile eGrahamstown. Wathi ucela simenzele umcimbi ngosuku lwakhe lokuzalwa. Wayeqala ukusicela ukuba simenzele okuthize. Washona sisahlela.”
Kulo mcimbi kuzobuye kusine kudedelane ezinye izinkakha zalo mculo kuleli okunguBongani Nkwanyana wodumo kwiStaxx noKhaya Mahlangu weSakhile. Labo makadebebona bazobe bebhulelwa amazolo ngoMazwakhe Gumede, Air Jazz, Thabiso Mnanyana, Andile Ndlovu, Hector Cebekhulu, Barney Bophela noNomsa Ndawo.
Eqhuba uNise uthe kulo mcimbi bafake izitshudeni ezaphekwa nezakhula zibukela kuye.
“Kunamabhendi amabili, akhiwe yintsha eyayifunda eDUT, azobe enandisa ngalolu suku. Yingoba uSipho wayekukhonzile ukuvumbulula ikhono elisha,” kuphetha uNise oyisikhulu saseBat Centre.
UGumede ngumdlali wesigingci sebhesi owasebenza nezinye izihlabani ezidume umhlaba wonke njengoHugh Masekela, Letta Mbuli, Harry Belafonte, Caiphus Semenya, Brenda Fassie, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Kippie Moeketsi, Abdullah Ebrahim, Jonas Gwangwa, Tim Thomas, Margaret Singane, Stimela nabanye.
UGumede, owaduma ngengoma ethi Mantombi nethi When Days Are Dark Friends Are Few, wasishiya kuleli ngoJulayi 26, 2004 eneminyaka ewu48 ubudala.
Wangeniswa esibhedlela iParklands Park, eThekwini, exinwe yisifo somdlavuza wamaphaphu. Amathikithi okuthamela lo mcimbi azoqala ukutholakala ngoLwesibili ngoR100.