Trumpeter, composer and one of South Africa’s great musical sons, Fezile ‘Feya’ Faku died in June this year. He spent much of his music life in Durban, studied here, formed bands here and performed locally, taught music here and was a mentor and beloved member of our community for many years. Neil Gonsalves recalls, ‘We were students at the same time, but he was always a teacher and mentor to me. He never liked the word, jazz. He preferred improvised music. But he was the quintessential jazz man. Gentle and soft-spoken but fiercely committed to, and uncompromising about the music. He was unshakeable in his dedication to the art form and served as a great role-model for so many of us.’

He maintained these relationships after he moved to Joburg and would return to play shows, launch new albums and perform at his Alma mater’s annual jazz fund raiser. His last such visit was in 2023 when he reunited with the Melvin Peters Quartet to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the jazz program at UKZN. Melvin recalls, ‘My fondest memory of the Melvin Peters Quintet was winning the Carling Circle of Jazz Competition in 1989. This was a defining moment for our band, which included Zim Ngqawana, Lex Futshane and George Ellis. I realized back then that Feya was well on his way to making his mark on the jazz scene, both locally and internationally. The rest, like they say is history!’

In tribute to their great friend and brother in music, Melvin Peters, Sazi Dlamini, Neil Gonsalves, Andile Yenana, and Nduduzo Makhathini will gather their respective bands together to present an unforgettable evening of music on Saturday, October 4th at 6pm. It is fitting that the concert be hosted at Howard College theatre, the site of so many of Feya’s musical triumphs. Tickets are R250, R150 for pensioners and R100 for students. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to Feya’s family.

Friends of Feya Faku, in concert

Saturday, October 4th at 18:00.

University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Howard College Campus,

Howard College theatre,