Condolences pour in for SA jazz legend Feya Faku

According to reports, Faku failed to attend rehearsals on the morning of 23 June. Concerned colleagues later discovered him unresponsive in his hotel room. The cause of death has not yet been officially confirmed.

Faku, widely revered for his contribution to South African jazz, leaves behind a formidable musical legacy that spans more than three decades.

Tributes poured in as fellow musicians mourning the loss of one of Africa’s finest horn players.

“Farewell Feya Faku. The South African trumpet and flugelhorn player was a gentle giant of African jazz,” Kenyan jazz composer Christine Kamau wrote on social media. “He was also a forerunner in Swiss–South African jazz collaborations. Glad I got to watch him live at Moods Club in Zurich in 2023 after many years of listening to his music.”

London-based South African musician Eugene Skeef posted: “Another great South African musician has gone. Trumpeter Feya Faku has transcended to the next plane. May his music take us ever deeper into the beauty of being.”

South African producer Tshiamo ‘Tshida’ Mosenyi also reflected on his recent work with the late trumpeter: “While the industry is still mourning the passing of Ntate Louis Moholo-Moholo, another great tree has fallen. So shocking. I had the honour of mixing audio for Feya, and what a treat it always was. Our most recent gig was at Native Rebels before he was due to mesmerise the Cape Town International Jazz Festival alongside Mthunzi, Sisonke and their Swiss collaborators.”

Born in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape, Faku’s journey into music began later in life and outside traditional pathways. Without initial formal training, he learned trumpet under the guidance of various local musicians, many of them saxophonists, which helped shape his distinctive playing style.

In 1988, Faku enrolled at the University of Natal, supported by a bursary from the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL). Under the mentorship of the acclaimed Darius Brubeck, he graduated in 1992 with a diploma in Jazz Studies, a milestone that marked the launch of a celebrated career.

Faku’s musical journey flourished in Durban, where he performed and recorded with South African jazz greats including Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Thandie Klaasen, Pat Matshikiza, and Barney Rachabane. Over the years, he also worked with international icons such as Abdullah Ibrahim, Zim Ngqawana, Bheki Mseleku, Kenny Garrett, and Hugh Masekela.