Friends and family gathered at Bethesda Methodist Church in Johannesburg to celebrate the life of the late jazz diva Dorothy Masuka.

Masuka died on Saturday last week at the age of 83 following complications related to hypertension, after suffering a mild stroke last year.

In a very emotional service that was attended by her children and grandchildren who came from as far afield as Zambia, Botswana, the UK and Zimbabwe, she was praised for preaching love and living by it.

The members of the family defined her as a colourful person and a diva. Biatar Masuka, who lives in Zambia, said Masuka might have been a musician to the public but to them she was a mother, aunt and a father- figure.

Masuka said:"I want to thank all people who lived and supported her. This is a sad moment for us as the family. Mama was a strong, spiritual woman. We get encouraged when we see that people truly loved her. She fought a good fight."

Great granddaughter Dorothy Laconquer Masuka said:"Gogo was a lively and fabulous person. She was a fighter and had a strong character. She taught me a lot about insecurities and being confident. It is hard to lose someone you love."