Soweto - Family, friends and peers of Linda "ProKid" Mkhize witnessed a befitting send-off for the late South African rapper, dubbed the "Number 1 Soweto Boy", and "hip-hop genius".
ProKid died on Wednesday, 8 August, after suffering a "severe seizure". A post-mortem revealed that the 37-year-old rapper died due to a rare cause of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
The condition is known as Hemosuccus pancreaticus, which is “bleeding in the pancreas, pancreatic duct, or structures near the pancreas, such as the splenic artery, that bleed into the pancreatic duct.
#ProKidFuneral #RIPLindaMkhize #RIPProKid #Number1SowetoBoy #DankieSan pic.twitter.com/C00MoeaoH7
— IOL Lifestyle (@IOL_Lifestyle) August 19, 2018
Speakers at the funeral service, held at UJ Soweto Campus on Sunday, described ProKid as the person who brought the SA hip-hop scene to life, making rapping in vernacular "cool".
#ProKidFuneral uncle paying tribute to #LindaMkhize #ProKidFuneral #Number1SowetoBoy #DankieSan pic.twitter.com/sGzYCVThLV
— IOL Lifestyle (@IOL_Lifestyle) August 19, 2018
Many of the rapper's peers paid tribute to the hip-hop legend with a heavy heart as they remembered a friend, a father, a husband, a son and a trailblazing artist who through pen a paper brought emotions to life.
Pro, through his music and clothing brand Dankie San!, proved that a young boy standing on a street corner could accomplish anything.
DJ Sbu, Slikour, TK, among others, kept emphasising that without people like Pro, Mzansi would not have the likes of AKA, Nasty C, Cassper Nyovest and all the hip-hop stars that are currently making their mark in the industry.
#ProKidFuneral reading of the obituary #RIPProKid #Number1SowetoBoy pic.twitter.com/SZf5Ij1CCI
— IOL Lifestyle (@IOL_Lifestyle) August 19, 2018
#RIPLindaMkhize #ProKidFuneral obituary reading part 2 #Number1SowetoBoy #DankieSan pic.twitter.com/VMdvXSEUr8
— IOL Lifestyle (@IOL_Lifestyle) August 19, 2018
#RIPLindaMkhize #ProKidFuneral obituary reading part 3 #Number1SowetoBoy #DankieSan pic.twitter.com/RvGiehQFvG
— IOL Lifestyle (@IOL_Lifestyle) August 19, 2018
In a moving tribute, letters from his wife Ayanda was read and his three-year-old daughter Nonkanyezi were read by a family member.
When the MEC of Sports Arts and Culture Faith Mazibuko took the podium she reminded those in attendance that they were here to celebrate Pro's life.
"We are here to celebrate a life of a young, vibrate, musician", she said before breaking into song, which got people up and dancing. Even Pro's family joined in.
#RememberProKid with song and dance #ProKidFuneral #DankieSan #RIPProKid pic.twitter.com/on1HnVuJey
— IOL Lifestyle (@IOL_Lifestyle) August 19, 2018
#RememberProKid with song and dance #ProKidFuneral #DankieSan #RIPProKid pic.twitter.com/on1HnVuJey
— IOL Lifestyle (@IOL_Lifestyle) August 19, 2018
Following the service, the funeral procession headed to the Westpark Cemetery after a brief interlude of spinning gusheshes outside the UJ Soweto Campus.
#RIPProKid send off, celebrating the life of #Number1SowetoBoy #DankieSan pic.twitter.com/c5AUfqcj0x
— IOL Lifestyle (@IOL_Lifestyle) August 19, 2018
The cemetery will be Mkhize's final resting place.
#ProkidFuneral @IOL_Lifestyle @ReporterStar pic.twitter.com/Io5yV6pP5w
— Nokuthula Zwane (@Zwane_2Li2Ls) August 19, 2018
The hip hop fraternity is hosting a gig on August 26 to raise funds for Pro's daughter's education.