EC Prominent Artists set to host an Online Tribute to the late Gospel Star Malibongwe Gcwabe

In a quest to bid farewell to their fellow muso, EC artists resort to an Online Tribute to celebrate Dr Gcwabe's life for the last time.

One of the greatest Eastern Cape gospel music lendends, Dr Malibongwe Gcwabe died during the world's most painful time of COVID-19. Within a blink of an eye, short breath claimed his life on Wednesday afternoon, 13 May 2020, however, due to lockdown funeral restrictions, Eastern Cape (EC) artists cry as they will not be granted permission to attend his funeral on Friday, 22 May. 

ONLINE TRIBUTE: The tribute will be broadcasted on Facebook BCPAC Artists  page (Poster Supplied)

According to Buffalo City Performing Arts Council (BCPAC) Chairperson, Luzuko Khohli, over 10 prominent gospel artists such as Dr Khanyisa Sabuka, Bethusile Mcinga to name a few as well as some circular music artists; Siseko Pame, Nathi B and many more members of BCPAC offered to gather at the Guild Theater to conduct the tribute in honor of the late gospel sensation, Pastor Gcwabe (Dr). 

The Online Tribute will be broadcasted live on social media via 'BCPAC Artists' Facebook page from 2pm, Thursday, 21 May 2020 to avoid a mass gathering. 

Dr Malibongwe Gcwabe, a man that filled the biggest theater in East London, the Orient Theater, to its capacity to host his shows as if it was too small a thing. A tenacious man in his giftings and calling who continued to serve God's people with his gift of song since 1995 even up to his last day on earth, 13 May 2020,

A responsible man in the spirit leaves his church; Remnant Ministries, his fans, fellow Youth with Mission gospel group members and his family, despondent.
However, he ran his race, explored his talents and contributed with 18 albums in the music industry and passed the baton at the age of 55 years.

FUNERAL DETAILS: Poster Supplied 

Having touched many lives in the entire country, particularly the Eastern Cape society through his music, he remains one of the few artists that were honoured with a doctorate because of the significant role he played as a gospel artist. He had a tremendous impact in the lives of many musicians that looked up to him as a mentor and groomed many artists in his generation, directly and independently.

"Dr Malibongwe Gcwabe is one of the few artists I know in the province who developed his backing vocalists by granting them opportunity to develop themselves musically in his own capacity. He featured them on 20 of the shows he conducted even without government or municipality assistance and motivated them to release their own solo albums," said Luzuko Khohli.

Khohli added that, Umlilo Gospel Team gave Dr Gcwabe's backing vocalists an opportunity to develop themselves which launched the music careers of artists such as Luleka Mhlanga, Olwethu Mvalo, Grace Mtombeni, the late Nolitha Langa and many of his backing vocalists which he featured on his albums, including the Remnant Brothers.

Album cover: From Google

One of his backing vocalists, who was privileged to write over 10 songs for Dr Gcwabe, and featured in one of his albums "All is well" with a song he initially wrote for him "Mpendulo," Pindile 'Piza' Vuso said: 

"When I wrote songs for him, never in my wildest dreams, did I anticipate that an artist of his calibre would ask me to sing one of the songs and actually have me feature on his album."

"Pastor Gcwabe played a significant role in my music ministry as a young man, he was used by God to validate my songwriting skills and I'll always be greatful to him for that," said Vuso.

Dr Gcwabe walked in his purpose until he was no more. He ran his race and finished it, now it is up to us to put the seeds he planted in our lives into good use. Just before he passed on, he recorded a single titled: Rise Up From Corona, in collaboration with another Gospel outfit, Dr Khanyisa Sabuka. The pair is affectionately known as the spirit filled former Youth with Mission Gospel Group lead vocalists in the 90's. The song is a prayer against the deadly virus and it is available in all music outlets.

Retrieved from Vovee Batala's Facebook 

Tomorrow, EC Artists will gather and bid farewell online to celebrate the luminary in a language he would understand: Music. 

Be on the lookout for the live tribute on the BCPAC Artists page on Facebook, Thursday at 2pm, more details are on the page on the following link: 

https://www.facebook.com/1427129084081721/posts/2758169614310988/