Patience Bambalele

Patience Bambalele

Tributes continued to pour in yesterday for Afro-pop star Jabu Ndaba, who died on Monday.

Ndaba was a member of the award-winning group Malaika. He died after a long struggle with TB.

The news shocked the music industry.

Colleagues described him as the eternal "funny man", who cheered up any gathering.

Producer and singer Robbie Malinga, who discovered Ndaba, said the musician's death came too early in a career filled with promise.

"I met Jabu and Bongani in the mid-1990s and I realised that these boys had talent. Lindelani and I recorded them as Stouters. However, our friendship didn't stop there."

Malinga said he encouraged Ndaba to buy a studio.

"I realised that he [could become] one of the best producers. He listened and bought the studio equipment and began producing a few people. Javas, as I used to call him, had a bright future in the music industry.

"As a friend I will miss his versatile personality. "

Kwaito star Brown Dash, also known as Siphiwe Mpamile, said Jabu was one of the most creative and versatile producers he had worked with.

"He understood music well. I was looking forward to working with him in the future, but death has overtaken me on that one."

King of kwaito Arthur Mafokate said Ndaba was a comedian.

"He was a crazy character. Every time he called he made me laugh. He was the funniest guy [around]."