Pops Mohamed
Pops Mohamed (born Ismail Mohamed-Jan) December 10th 1949 is a South African multi-instrumentalist, jazz musician and producer.
Born in Benoni, Gauteng Pops Mohamed’s career in music was the logical outcome of an early exposure at Dorkay House to the likes of Abdullah Ibrahim and Kippie Moeketsi. His father was a Muslim of Portuguese and Indian heritage and his mother was of Xhosa people and Khoisan heritage. He grew up in the Indian community of Johannesburg. He started his first band The Valiants, at 14. Known by fans as the Minister of Music, he plays a wide variety of instruments: African mouth bow, bird whistle, berimbau, didgeridoo, guitar, keyboard, kora, and the thumb piano. He is also known for his wide range of musical styles which include kwela, pop, and soul. He produced Finding One’s Self, the late Moses Taiwa Molelekwa‘s award-winning album.
Pops has also performed regularly with and sits on the board of the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company.