HARARE - Scores of people on Saturday gathered at “Sean One” Mubayiwa’s house in Randburg to celebrate the life of the late prolific producer Siphosenkosi Mukhuhlani known to many as TBA or Playboy.

TBA died last year in a horrific accident in Pretoria on October 30, 2011 that also claimed the life of his fiancée Theresa Tafirenyika.

Ironically it is that fateful night when TBA had launched his debut single, Uchandifunga together with Sean One’s debut album Wakandirwadzisa at Chez Intemba in Pretoria.

Theresa died on the spot due to severe injuries while TBA had to endure several hours in the Intensive Care Unit in Johannesburg Hospital before passing on.

Among the people present at the memorial were several celebrated Zimbabwean artistes based in South Africa like Sean One, Enock “Nox” Guni, Trinta, Chagwa Black and Blush to mention but a few.
 
In a very soulful and emotional tone the memorial started at around 9.30am with people giving heartfelt speeches of the music guru’s impact on their lives.

“To this day it hasn’t really sunk in that my best friend and partner is really gone, sometimes I plan to go to the studio to record and only realise later that TBA is no longer around.

“I could not believe it when I heard that the person I had been with the whole day had an accident after the show and when we went to the site I was horrified to see Playboy comatose and being ferried off to the hospital,” said Sean One as he tried frantically to hold back tears.

As people took turns to talk about the veteran music producer, what seemed most common in the speeches was TBA’s jovial and free-spirited nature.

Blush could only say that he will be going to TBA’s grave at Warren Hills cemetery to spend time drinking beer by the graveside.

Zimbabwe’s most celebrated newcomer music videos producer and rapper; Chagwa Black who also featured on Maskiri’s chart-topper TBA production Wenera concurred in a speech at the site of the accident and said: “Sipho, I am no longer drinking chibhodhoro (hot liquor) because I have no one to drink it with.

“I even named my first son after you to always remind me of your friendship, to me you were more than a friend, you were a brother, I love you man.”

Nox wished TBA was alive to share in the proceeds of his new-found fame and wealth.

Together with Take 5, TBA founded That Squad Studios where they did a couple of award-winning productions such as the Chamhembe Compilations.

Songs produced by TBA and Take 5 that gave a face to urban grooves included Roki’s Suzzana, Zvachose by Kevie and Waenda by Tererai.

TBA then moved from That Squad (Chamhembe) to start his own Chigutiro stable were he produced several compilations and solo albums of renowned urban grooves artistes like Ngoni Kambarami, Maskiri, Shayne Dings, 2BG, Nox and Honey Vibes among several others.

At the time of his death he had produced several albums for South African and Zimbabwean artistes like Sean One, Nox, Maskiri and Trinta a that could only be released posthumously. - OWN CORRESPONDENT