Jazz dance maestro passed away
Legendary Jazz dance maestro from Mamelodi dies after a long illness.
Legendary jazz dancer and soccer legend Mapika Abinaar Kola from Mamelodi West, Section D1, died last week Thursday following a long illness.
He died at the age of 80 at the Steve Biko academic hospital.
Mapika, also known as “Little Bee” to many residents in Mamelodi, was the father of the late Bra Kola, a jazz legend of the famous Kola Jazz Band.
His wife, Lola Mariam Kola, described him as a loving person who always liked to help in the community.
“My husband was loved by everyone and has helped many people in the community and even taught his son Bra Kola to play tenor saxophone.”
He later formed the Kola Jazz Band with his children.
“Little Bee was also known in the community for his dance moves in and around Mamelodi and he also played football for the Transvaal Black Birds,” said Mariam.
Samuel “Oneboy” Molokomme, a friend, said on behalf of all jazz clubs in Gauteng that “Little Bee was a brother and father to many jazz music lovers”.
“He was a very quiet person and would not talk too much, the only way to express his feeling was through his dance moves,” said Molokomme.
He is survived by his wife, seven children, 25 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Kola will be buried on Saturday at Mamelodi West Cemetery.
The service will be held at Mamelodi West Section D1 at Mapika’s tavern.
It will start at 07:00 and proceed to the cemetery at 09:00.
After the burial there will be live entertainment by his grandchildren belonging to the Kola Jazz Band.
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