Moses Taiwa Molelekwa , 1973 - 2001, shaped a distinct sound on Wa Mpona and Genes and Spirits, reflecting a pivotal era in South African history marked by cultural rebirth. As apartheid came to an end, the spirit of the ‘new South Africa’ sparked widespread celebration and a renewed sense of national identity. Consequently, musicians—including Molelekwa—began exploring aesthetics that were consciously and uniquely South African.

Miriam Makeba, Jonas Gwangwa and Thembi Mtshali and two bands of which he was a founding member - Brotherhood and Umbongo - took it in turns to win the Best Jazz Group category in the 1991/92 Gilbeys Music of Africa Competition.
 The theatre has long provided an outlet for musical expression in South Africa and Moses acted as Musical Director of several productions, most recently a musical entitled 'SA Love/Uthando', directing musicians including Barney Rachabane, Sophie Mgcina and Jennifer Ferguson to great acclaim. Though he learned much and, as a result, has developed a passion for writing film scores, Moses says, "I can't imagine doing that again, playing the same music every day. That's the past."
 Just how bright his future might be became apparent when Moses was approached by Hugh Masekela at the tender age of 18. "I didn't even think, 'this is Masekela!', I just went for it.' One reason why young Moses may not have been over-awed by the great South African trumpeter is that he was barely familiar with Masekela's music, which had been banned in his homeland through the dark years. But he got the gig playing keyboards - not just acoustic piano - in the Masekela band and swung with it for over a year. Since then, he's toured the US with such stars as Dorothy Masuka and Julian Bahula.
Having paid his dues as a jazz apprentice, Moses has set out the blueprint for his own reinterpretation of the fine African jazz tradition of Abdullah Ibrahim, with whom he is often compared, on his debut album, Finding One's Self. Featuring all his own compositions and arrangements, the quality of the guest musicians on this album testify to the high esteem in which he is held. The veteran producer, POPS MOHAMED, considers Moses to have been one of the most exciting players to have emerged from the Republic in recent years: "He can play any which way, and still do it his way. It was a great experience working with him and there's a lot more to come."
As a member of the M.E.L.T. musical family, Moses joined the OUTERNATIONAL MELTDOWN jams in 1994, where he met Andrew Missingham, who says: "Moses is going to be one of the great jazz men of the next decade. I've worked with tons of pianists and he's head and shoulders above nearly everyone. If you listen to Moses' solos, they're brilliantly structured. There seems to be a foresight that goes right through them." It was hardly surprising, then, that Andrew chose to work with Moses again when he put together Barungwa whose only album was The Messengers.

For a full experience on Moses short life please visit https://mosesmolelekwa.com/