SOUTH AFRICA – We are receiving reports that talented South African music producer Bojo Mujo has died. He is best know for hits like Summer Rain, Hlonolofatsa and Thando Lwami among many others.
His death comes as a double blow to the South African entertainment industry coming on the same day as the death of Zimbabwe born SABC Top Billing presenter Simba Mhere.
“He passed peacefully at Pretoria 5h00 AM after a short illness surrounded by family… Bojo Mujo’s first love was to make people dance. Although he is no longer with us, his music will live among his fans forever (sic),” his manager Sello Lehlake said.
Although Bojo Mujo’s music was widely consumed in townships and rural areas, his talent was seldom recognized especially in the mainstream media. But that seemed not to bother the multi-platinum seller.
“It does not bother me. Because I am not famous I have the freedom to go wherever I want. I get recognition through my sales and gigs. Fame means I can be in bad mood when I’m in public,” he told Tonight in 2009.
Just where did Bojo Mujo, aka Jack Lehlake, get his name from?
“In the Antonio Banderas film, Desperado, the baddie who turned out to be Antonio’s brother was named Bucho. I wanted the mojo that Bucho had and thought to myself that I was going to use that guy’s name in the future,” he said in a 2009 interview.
“In 2001, when I first became serious about recording music, I went under the name Bujo Mojo, but everyone got it wrong. They called me Bojo Mujo so I just stuck with it.”