Lady Du's heartfelt tribute: how Mr JazziQ became her rock in grief

South African singer and songwriter Lady Du, born Duduzile Ngwenya, recently took to social media to pay tribute to her friend and fellow musician, Mr JazziQ, whose real name is Tumelo Manyoni. 

The emotional post highlighted the vital role JazziQ played during a challenging chapter in Du's life, following the passing of her father, DJ Choc, whose real name was Mbuyiselo Ngwenya. 

With sincerity in every word, Du wrote, “You showed up for me when my father died; you carried me through the pain. I don’t even know how to thank you.” 

The artist’s raw emotions were evident as she admitted, “I’m crying writing this message because of how far we’ve come.” 

In her tribute, Du affectionately referred to JazziQ as “buti wam,” a phrase denoting brotherhood, which underscores the depth of their relationship. 

With warmth, she concluded her message with, “God bless you (heart emojis). I love you buti wam.” 

Du is renowned for celebrating the individuals who have significantly influenced her journey, and in this tribute, she illuminated exactly how crucial JazziQ has been in both her personal and professional spheres. 

The two artists have long shared an artistic synergy, having collaborated during the early days of the Amapiano movement, a genre that has taken South Africa by storm.

Their joint works include tracks such as “Woza”, alongside Kabza De Small and Boohle, and “Soft Life”, featuring Busta 929. Other notable collaborations include “Gupta” with Focalistic, Mellow and Sleazy and “Shelela”. 

Du's emotional reflection has touched her fans, igniting a wave of supportive responses.

One user commented, “One thing about JazziQ, he always shows up.”

Another wrote, praising JazziQ as “the forever goated grootman,” while a third expressed heartfelt wishes for the duo’s enduring friendship: “So sentimental. May nothing come between you guys.”

Since the loss of DJ Choc earlier this year, Du has gradually resumed her music career, hinting at her return to the studio. 

In a recent post, she shared, “I’ve been in the studio for the past 2 weeks. New music is dropping soon.”

Furthermore, she is also set to perform at the upcoming Zee Nation Fest on August 9.