Shock as talented Bay DJ dies after short illness

PROMISING young DJ Xolile Nomala has died following a short illness.

Nomala, 29, also known as Xylophone, was a member of Most Valuable Players (MVP), a group of 10 Nelson Mandela Bay DJs who started playing at weddings and events around the Bay to raise tuition fees for themselves.

Family and friends gathered at his Tsotsobe Street, New Brighton, home on Friday where they shared their memories of him.

His father, Dumile Nomala, 64, said Nomala returned from a course in Cape Town a few weeks ago with the flu.

"He stopped eating and lost weight. We did not think it was anything serious. On Tuesday, we had supper as the family but after that we could see that he was not right.

"We took him to Livingstone Hospital and on Thursday he took his last breath. He was in a lot of pain and at times battling to breathe," he said.

"He was taken from us too soon but he is at peace now. It pained us as a family to see him in so much pain." Nomala's mother, Maria Nomala, 64, said he worked as a textile designer at packaging company Nampak.

"We have three girls and Xolile was our only son. He never took advantage of that. He was soft-spoken and no one ever complained about him.

"Losing him is very sad but I saw the suffering in his eyes," she said.

Nomala's MVP mates said the group would not be the same without him.

"We are all feeling sad. He really had a great sense of humour, and there was never a dull moment with him around," DJ Warrinho Mjuza said.

Fans posted messages of support on Nomala's Facebook wall.

Nanziwe Mzuzu wrote: "Yo what a sad reality to finally accept, that my cousin Xolile MVP Xylophone is no more. To the Nomala family, I pray that Jehovah God gives us the strength to face these trying times."

Xylophone is survived by his parents, three sisters – Faith, 37, Sibongile, 33, and Zanele, 29 – and two daughters – Phaphani, 6, and Unabantu, 4.

His funeral will be held this Saturday.