Emotional Farewell: South Africa Bids Goodbye to Jazz Giant Feya Faku

LEGENDARY musician Feya Faku laid to rest in an emotional jazzy ceremony.

His funeral service was held at the Nelson Mandela Stadium Precinct, in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on Saturday, 5 July.

Family, friends, mourners and jazz colleagues gathered to pay their last respects to his funeral that featured live jazz performances by his band.

Popular Feya’s songs were performed live, led by legendary pianist Andile Yenana and saxophonist Sisonke Xonti, among others.

Faku (63), also known as Bra Feya, passed away in Basel, Switzerland, on 23 June during a tour.

It’s alleged he didn’t show up for morning rehearsals and when his colleagues went to check on him, they found he had passed on.

During his funeral service, there was a sad moment when a video of him speaking was played.

The programme director introduced the video as Bra Feya spoke.

“Music is about friendship and brotherhood and trust. There are no hidden agendas here. It is always about music because it is bigger than us and music is bigger than philosophy and all the staff you know.

“In the sky they play our music for what it is, and at this stage in my life this is where I am now. I just want friendship. Music has no age, music has no colour, the heart has no colour, we have to embrace one another,” Bra Feya said on his pre-recorded video played during the funeral service.

Legendary pianist Andile Yenana, who worked with Bra Feya for over 30 years, described the late as a good musician.

“I first met Feya when I arrived at the University of Natal in 1990 and now, we are speaking about 1990 and 2025, it is over 30 years. It is over 30 years of music, it is 30 years of composing. He was a good composer. He was composing many songs and would find out that his unrecorded songs already have a title.

“He only called us when he was ready for his songs. He had his words to explain his compositions to make us understand. His compositions are the ones we performed in these 35 years. He used to compose songs with people closer to him,” he said.

Saxophonist Sisonke Xonti said he was discovered by Bra Feya in Makhanda in 2009 when he was conducting the National Youth Jazz Band at the time.

“I auditioned and met the band and that is when our relationship started, as my mentor, teacher and close friend. He asked me to move to Joburg, and it took me a few years because I was still studying and finally moved and met the father figure of the young generation.

“He was the one who was opening doors for others. For the past two years, I have travelled with him around Switzerland and Germany sharing a flat, cooking together, washing dishes together. He was the cleanest man and loved to wear smart clothes,” he said.