South African jazz legend Pops Mohamed dies at 75

Beloved South African musician Ismail Mohamed-Jan, known to many jazz fans as Pops Mohamed, has passed away at the age of 75. Mohamed was widely respected not only for his talent, but also for the way he challenged strict ideas about race, culture, and music throughout his life.

Just days before his passing, a remastered version of his 2006 album Kalamazoo, Vol. 5 (A Dedication to Sipho Gumede) was released on digital platforms, with an official launch still to come. The timing has added a bittersweet note for fans celebrating his musical legacy.

Mohamed was born on 10 December 1949 in Benoni, a gold-mining town east of Johannesburg. When he was a teenager, apartheid’s Group Areas Act forced his family to relocate to Reiger Park, then known as Stertonville. The suburb was designated for people of mixed heritage, reflecting Mohamed’s own diverse background. His father had Indian and Portuguese roots, while his mother traced her ancestry to Xhosa and Khoisan communities.

Through the years, Pops Mohamed became known as a cultural bridge-builder, blending different instruments and styles and refusing to be limited by labels. His passing marks the end of an era, but his music continues to inspire new generations.