Langalakhe Mabena
LIKE father like daughter!
Having a baby at the age of 18 is quite an experience especially when you are a male. The community judges you for making such “slip-ups”, it even negatively affects the teenage father or mother as they feel they are not worth bringing up a child.
However, such judgments and societal stereotypes didn’t discourage Fab G MshanakaGogo real name Prince Qhubani Mpofu from becoming a good and supportive father to his daughter Lilo Unathi Mpofu.
One of the traits of being a “cool dad” is proven by backing his daughter who will soon venture into music.
The daughter who goes by the stage name Lilo Masetshaba is set to release her first music single titled Ngiyalibonga Bazali bami on her fourth birthday on 23 November.
The single was written and features “daddy” Fab G who introduces the track with a poem.
“I had Masetshaba when I was 18 years with my childhood sweetheart Thandolwethu Ashley Sibanda. Despite society being judgemental we promised to raise our bundle of joy in a good and best way we can,” said Fab G.
It’s very rare for children to have understanding parents who support them in doing music especially at the tender age of three, as it is always insisted school must come first.
Fab G’s experiences as a child at the hands of his parents after breaking news that he wanted to do music, inspired him to do the opposite and afford the toddling Lilo Masetshaba a chance.
“I am a father figure now but it can’t be ignored that I also have a father. Growing up it was hard for my parents to accept that I want to be a musician as they maintained school comes first but I did not do very well at school.
“That’s when I discovered that there are other talents like music that can make one afford a living, so I didn’t want to be a bad father to my daughter for not supporting her. We are not forcing her to do music, at the age of two she would cry to go with me to the studio,” said Fab G.
The Umthobanhliziyo Tribal genre founder revealed that he is not surprised that Masetshaba will be even a greater artiste as she grows up because she has music genes from him and her mother who is a local church choir leader at one of Old Magwegwe’s congregations.
