WHILE Senyaka was known for making his fans laugh with his music and roles in low-budget films, it's a little known fact that he came from a political family.
The musician, whose real name is Thula Kekana, died on Wednesday aged 58. He was the son of Moses Kekana, who was among the anti-apartheid fallen heroes who established the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) with Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe in 1959. Before that, He was one of the founding members of the ANC Youth League in 1948.
He was also instrumental in the Evaton bus boycott in the 1950s. In fact, Senyaka's elder brother, Tladi, said Senyaka was born in the midst of the historic bus boycott which changed the face of SA politics.
"My brother emulated my father's love for music and the stage, but he did not show any interest in politics. He was mostly like my father. He would walk in and everyone would warm up to him . my father was like that," said Tladi yesterday, speaking to Sowetan from Senyaka's Orlando West Gardens home.
"He was a jolly, happy-go-lucky person. He loved to make people laugh. He loved being the centre of attention. He was an exuberant, loving and kind person."
Tladi, 61, said that, as a young boy, Senyaka would listen to him poke fun at their friends. "He took his comedies from me, because I was the king when it came to poking fun at people. But he became a better act. To me it was a hobby, but he turned that into a career."
Recalling fond childhood memories, he said once their father was about to give him a hiding, Senyaka charmed him by responding in English. His father was stunned by the way he expressed himself in the Queen's language, so he managed to escape punishment.
According to Tladi, Senyaka had pneumonia and diabetes. "He didn't look good, he looked very frail. I think he took time in attending to his illness. His condition was fluctuating. One moment he looked okay and the next he was not, and that's what disturbed me. But we thought he was reacting to the medication."
Tladi said, even in that state, Senyaka could still crack jokes.
Senyaka's memorial service will be held at Bassline in downtown Johannesburg on Tuesday, while the funeral will be held in Evaton, Vaal, on Thursday.
Senyaka's father an anti-apartheid hero
WHILE Senyaka was known for making his fans laugh with his music and roles in low-budget films, it's a little known fact that he came from a political family.
The musician, whose real name is Thula Kekana, died on Wednesday aged 58. He was the son of Moses Kekana, who was among the anti-apartheid fallen heroes who established the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) with Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe in 1959. Before that, He was one of the founding members of the ANC Youth League in 1948.
He was also instrumental in the Evaton bus boycott in the 1950s. In fact, Senyaka's elder brother, Tladi, said Senyaka was born in the midst of the historic bus boycott which changed the face of SA politics.
"My brother emulated my father's love for music and the stage, but he did not show any interest in politics. He was mostly like my father. He would walk in and everyone would warm up to him . my father was like that," said Tladi yesterday, speaking to Sowetan from Senyaka's Orlando West Gardens home.
"He was a jolly, happy-go-lucky person. He loved to make people laugh. He loved being the centre of attention. He was an exuberant, loving and kind person."
Tladi, 61, said that, as a young boy, Senyaka would listen to him poke fun at their friends. "He took his comedies from me, because I was the king when it came to poking fun at people. But he became a better act. To me it was a hobby, but he turned that into a career."
Recalling fond childhood memories, he said once their father was about to give him a hiding, Senyaka charmed him by responding in English. His father was stunned by the way he expressed himself in the Queen's language, so he managed to escape punishment.
According to Tladi, Senyaka had pneumonia and diabetes. "He didn't look good, he looked very frail. I think he took time in attending to his illness. His condition was fluctuating. One moment he looked okay and the next he was not, and that's what disturbed me. But we thought he was reacting to the medication."
Tladi said, even in that state, Senyaka could still crack jokes.
Senyaka's memorial service will be held at Bassline in downtown Johannesburg on Tuesday, while the funeral will be held in Evaton, Vaal, on Thursday.
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