Grahamstonians bade farewell at a memorial service yesterday afternoon at the City Hall to local DJ Milile Mentyisi, known as DJ Miles, who died last Friday.
Grahamstonians bade farewell at a memorial service yesterday afternoon at the City Hall to local DJ Milile Mentyisi, known as DJ Miles, who died last Friday.
Mentyisi, 41, grew up in Grahamstown and matriculated from Orlando West Motsepe High School in Johannesburg. He then went to Rhodes University, where he studied journalism but did not finish his degree.
DJ Miles, a member of the ANC, became involved in its military wing uMkhonto weSizwe in 1993. He fell in love with music and that's when he started the hip hop group Def Boys. He started to train other DJs at his Grahamstown studio, Basement Vibes, in 1994, where many DJs got their break. He was also involved with Radio Grahamstown when it was established in 1991.
His journey towards becoming a nationally acclaimed recording artist took a significant leap forward when his album '100 miles per hour' saw him recognised as the Eastern Cape's biggest artist.
As a secretary of Makana Art Council, he helped get support for local artists during the National Arts Festival.
Mentyisi is survived by his father Fezile Mentyisi, sister Nosipho Mentyisi, and brother Vuyolwethu Mentyisi. His funeral is scheduled for this coming Saturday and his body will arrive early in the morning at 922 Extension 6 where his family live. The service will be conducted at the Ethiopian Episcopal Church in Raglan Road, starting at 9am.
