Pops Mohamed
Pops Mohamed | |
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 Mohamed in 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Ismail Mohamed-Jan 10 December 1949 Benoni, South Africa |
| Died | 4 December 2025 (aged 75) Boksburg, South Africa |
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Ismail Mohamed-Jan (10 December 1949 – 4 December 2025), known professionally as Pops Mohamed, was a South African multi-instrumentalist, jazz musician and producer.
Life and career
[edit]Mohamed was born on 10 December 1949 in Benoni, Gauteng. He had a career in music that came from an early exposure at Dorkay House to the likes of Abdullah Ibrahim and Kippie Moeketsi. Mohamed's father was a Muslim of Portuguese and Indian heritage and his mother was of Xhosa and Khoisan heritage.[1] He grew up in Johannesburg. He started his first band The Valiants, at the age of 14. Known by fans as the "Minister of Music".[2] He played multiple musical instruments, including the African mouth bow, bird whistle, berimbau, didgeridoo, guitar, keyboard, kora, and the thumb piano.[3][4] He was also known for his wide range of musical styles which include kwela, pop, and soul.[5] He produced Finding One's Self, the late Moses Taiwa Molelekwa's award-winning album.
Pops received a lifetime achievement award in 2023 at the 29th Annual South African Music Awards.[6]
Pops also performed regularly with and sat on the board of the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company.[citation needed]
Pops had three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.[citation needed] He died on 4 December 2025, at the age of 75.[7]
Discography
[edit]- Kalamazoo – 1991
- Sophiatown Society – 1992 (with Morris Goldberg)
- Ancestral Healing – 1995
- How Far Have We Come – 1996
- Music With No Name – 1996
- Society Vibes – 1997 (with McCoy Mrubatha)
- Timeless – 1997
- Millennium Experience – 2000 (with Zena Edwards)
- Pops Mohamed Meets "The LondonSound Collective" – 1999
- Africa Meltdown – 2001
- Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow – 2002
- Mood Africa – 2005
References
[edit]- ↑ "Pops Mohamed", The Orbit.
- ↑ culturebase.net Archived 16 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Pops Mohamed". Home for Humanity. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
- ↑ "Pops Mohamed". Music In Africa. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
- ↑ "Pops Mohamed Biography". Sheer Sound. Archived August 7, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Darangwa, Shingai (13 November 2023). "Mandoza and Pops Mohamed among this year's Lifetime Achievement award honourees at 29th SAMAs". IOL. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
- ↑ Doreen Molefe (5 December 2025). "Legendary Pops Mohamed passes away!". Daily Sun. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
External links
[edit]- Pops Mohamed discography at Discogs
- Pops Mohamed at IMDb
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