Music icon Ihashi Elimuroff celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife, 80s pop star Lina Ngcobo, over the weekend.
It's often said that bad things happen in triplicates – if an unfortunate event has already happened twice, there's a good chance it will happen a third time – but the same can be said about the good things in life.
South African music icon Ihashi Elimhlophe celebrated 40 years of marriage to wife Lina Ngcobo over the weekend, and this year marks 45 years in the music industry, which will see him headline the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz in the coming weeks.
“I think it's all about respect,” said Bheki 'Ihashi Elimrov' Ngcobo The Citizen“Respecting myself, my work and the people I work with has got me this far.”
Ihashi Elimurofe is one of the well-known Maskandi artists in the country with an extensive catalogue that includes his debut album in 1986. HoloroHe has traveled the world sharing his music with fans of traditional sounds and collaborating with younger artists such as Boom Shaka and Oskido.
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Husband and father
He and his wife renewed their vows over the weekend in an intimate ceremony filled with family and friends. While it's unclear exactly how long the couple have been together, Ihash Elimurov spoke enthusiastically about sharing his life with his wife, who was celebrating her birthday.
“We were renewing our wedding vows and it was also her birthday. I can't remember how long we've been together, but it's over 40 years,” he said with a laugh.
“Marriage is important but no one should rush you into it. It's important to get married young and share your life with a partner who is also your friend as you get older. We are friends,” he said.
Marriage brings its own challenges, but being a public figure makes them even worse.
“We're so lucky to be in the same industry, we're always together and wherever you see me, you'll see her.”
He said apologies and communication are important in marriage and family life: “You can't just tell your wife, 'I'm a man,' and say everything should go your way. You have to be able to apologize when you're wrong, even to your children.”
Mrs. Ngcobo, a musical artist under the name Ebony, had an explosive career before her marriage, dominating the pop scene in the mid-80s with hits such as: I need someone and Durara Ngent Yako.
“She exploded in front of me,” Ihash Elimurov said.
The pair first met in Phalaborwa when Ihashi Elimhlophe was still part of the band Mthembu Queens. “I saw her and asked the bandleader, Mr Mthembu, if I could take her with me to Johannesburg and he said 'no'.”
About a month later, after Ihash Elimurov persistently insisted that his current wife be included in the band, the bandleader gave in to his demands.
“It was easier to bring her to Johannesburg because we now know that her mother is of Mthembu descent. That way, at least they know who their daughter is with in Johannesburg and it makes it easier for her mother to allow her to join the Mthembu queen.”
The couple are now married and have four children and grandchildren. The Ngcobo family also have their own reality TV show on Mzansi Magic. Offze.
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The joy of jazz
Ihashi Elimurofe will perform on the Joy of Jazz stage for the first time next month. The diverse line-up includes a host of artists performing across five stages over two nights, including Portuguese-born musician Jessica Pina, Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara, South Africans Thandiswa and Bongeziwe Mabandla.
“I don't think I've ever played at Joy of Jazz, but I see it as a form of growth for me,” he said, adding that he's not nervous about performing in front of a jazz audience.
“If you're a South African, you know all kinds of music. You'll also find jazz artists who love maskandi.”
This is true.
In an interview The Citizen A few months ago, the leader of jazz ensemble iPhupho L'Ka Biko Nhlanhla Ngqaqu said he was excited to meet the Maskandi legend at the jazz festival.
“There's an opening guitar riff that you can hear in the Maskandi song. It's improvisation, and jazz is improvisation.”
“Even people who are not South Africans will enjoy seeing Ihashi Elimhlophe on stage because they understand our culture and our music.”
Ihashi Elimurov has performed in places where his music has been widely accepted, including China, India and Mexico.
“It's important that the things we care about, like traditional music, artists like Black Mambazo and Soul Brothers, are represented.”
“We also performed in Tanzania and India. When we went to India, I was most nervous because I was worried if they would like our music when they heard it. But they did. In China, people were fascinated by our look even before we went on stage.”
“At our first show in Mexico, all of our merch sold out. Caps, T-shirts, CDs, everything sold at our first show.”
Ihashi Elimhlophe was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the South African Music Awards last year.
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