Pops Mohamed

Mohamed was born on 10 December 1949 in Benoni, Gauteng. He had a career in music that came from an early exposure at Dorkay House to the likes of Abdullah Ibrahim and Kippie Moeketsi. Mohamed's father was a Muslim of Portuguese and Indian heritage and his mother was of Xhosa and Khoisan heritage.^[1] He grew up in Johannesburg. He started his first band The Valiants, at the age of 14. Known by fans as the "Minister of Music".^[2] He played multiple musical instruments, including the African mouth bow, bird whistle, berimbau, didgeridoo, guitar, keyboard, kora, and the thumb piano.^[3][4] He was also known for his wide range of musical styles which include kwela, pop, and soul.^[5] He produced Finding One's Self, the late Moses Taiwa Molelekwa's award-winning album.

Pops received a lifetime achievement award in 2023 at the 29th Annual South African Music Awards.^[6]

Pops also performed regularly with and sat on the board of the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company.^{[citation needed]}

Pops had three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.^{[citation needed]} He died on 4 December 2025, at the age of 75.^[7]

• Kalamazoo – 1991
• Sophiatown Society – 1992 (with Morris Goldberg)
• Ancestral Healing – 1995
• How Far Have We Come – 1996
• Music With No Name – 1996
• Society Vibes – 1997 (with McCoy Mrubatha)
• Timeless – 1997
• Millennium Experience – 2000 (with Zena Edwards)
• Pops Mohamed Meets "The LondonSound Collective" – 1999
• Africa Meltdown – 2001
• Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow – 2002
• Mood Africa – 2005