Award-winning Maskandi artist Scebi “Inkosi Yamagcokama” Dlamini was remembered for his profound generosity and his ability to nurture young talent as family, friends, and dignitaries gathered at the Mzisho Stadium in Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal, following his death in a car crash in Richards Bay.
The Bottom Line
- The Event: The funeral service for Scebi “Inkosi Yamagcokama” Dlamini was held at Mzisho Stadium in Msinga, drawing fans, community members, artists, and dignitaries.
- The Context: Dlamini lost his life in a vehicle collision in Richards Bay alongside his colleague Sipho “Gupta” Mchunu, who was buried on Friday.
- The Impact: KwaZulu-Natal Arts and Culture MEC Mntomuhle Khawula and fellow musicians emphasized Dlamini’s role in shifting the trajectory of the Maskandi genre.
Bidding Farewell to a Maskandi Artist in Msinga
The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands town of Msinga hosted mourners who came together to pay their final respects to Scebi Dlamini, known by his stage persona, Inkosi Yamagcokama. Dlamini’s death in a car crash in Richards Bay affected the music industry. Security was tight at the Mzisho Stadium as mourners gathered.
Sipho “Gupta” Mchunu, Dlamini’s colleague who died in the same fatal collision, was buried on Friday. Wezi Mthalane, one of the leaders of the women’s maskandi group Imithente, spoke about the grief. According to SABC News, Mthalane noted that the tragedy brought back memories of losing the leader of the Imithente group last year, adding that seeing young people pass away with bright futures ahead of them is painful.
A Force for KZN Arts
Dlamini was remembered as an artist who changed the trajectory of the genre. KwaZulu-Natal Arts and Culture MEC Mntomuhle Khawula addressed the stadium, characterizing the musician’s passing as a loss for the province’s art fraternity. Khawula highlighted Dlamini’s involvement when the department rolled out a live performance initiative in 2025 designed to help artists sustain themselves.
“The department, last year in 2025, started promoting live shows,” MEC Khawula shared during the funeral service, as reported by SABC News. “We offered artists in the province the opportunity to perform at live shows, where we would book them and pay them for their performances. The aim was to help them sustain themselves without relying on government for survival. Scebi was the first to take up the offer, and he filled the Playhouse to capacity. The show was very interesting.”
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Artist Name | Scebi Dlamini (Inkosi Yamagcokama) |
| Genre | Maskandi |
| Incident Location | Richards Bay |
| Funeral Location | Mzisho Stadium, Msinga |
| Key Official Tribute | KZN Arts and Culture MEC Mntomuhle Khawula |
A Legacy Rooted in Generosity and Youth Development
Those who worked alongside Dlamini emphasized his character. Tributes from fellow musicians pointed to his generosity and his nurturing of young talent.
As the cultural landscape of KwaZulu-Natal absorbs this loss, the legacy of Inkosi Yamagcokama remains.
