Musician Lloyd Lelosa laid to rest

LEGENDARY musician Lloyd Lelosa has been buried.

The Stimela pianist, who was 66 when he died, was buried on Thursday, 23 December in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, where he was born.

The service was held at Vosloorus Old Age Home and he was buried at South Park Cemetery in Germiston.

He leaves behind a wife, seven children and eight grandkids.

His widow Queen wrote a letter, which was read at the service.

“God saw you getting tired. He wrapped you in his loving arms and whispered ‘come to me’. You suffered much in silence and you stayed courageous until the very end,” she wrote.

“You tried so hard to stay with us. God took you to his loving home and freed you from the pain. Thank you for your endless love.”

Jabu Sibumbe, the surviving co-founder of Stimela, and other band members also spoke.

Jabu said: “We have lived life and we’ve made mistakes. However, as we’re gathered here, don’t be hopeless. Let’s be free and speak in happiness,” he said.

Stimela lead singer Sam Ndlovu said Lloyd was one of the best pianists the country had produced.

“Usually, when there’s a band, the focus is on the lead singer and we tend to forget the people behind. Today, we are celebrating Stimela and Ray Phiri because there were very strong lieutenants like bra Lloyd,” he said.

Lloyd’s neighbour, Sphiwe Zwane, said the musician had made peace with death.

“I was one of the people who helped baba when he was sick.

“One time when he was in hospital and we took a video of him, he said he was joining Stimela because the other members had left him,” he said.

“He was up and down in hospitals for a long time. May we please celebrate baba because he was a good person.”