Some people make music. Others leave fingerprints on the soul of a country.
As Old Khaki continues its Materials That Matter journey – a platform rooted in celebrating authenticity, craftmanship and stories that leave a lasting mark – the brand turns its attention to one of South Africa’s most beloved cultural icons: Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse.
For more than five decades, Hotstix has been more than a musician. He has been a voice of joy, resilience, memory and hope. His music has echoed through generations of South Africans –played at celebrations, sung in moments of nostalgia and woven into the everyday rhythm of life itself.
Through Materials That Matter, Old Khaki continues to spotlight local talent whose stories are stitched together by purpose, craft and human connection. It is a platform built on the belief that what truly matters is not only what we make, but the lives we touch, the communities that has always stood behind us and the legacy we leave behind.
Hotstix’s story begins in Soweto, where music wasn’t something he chose – it was something that surrounded him. Raised in an informal settlement, he grew up listening to the drums of traditional healing ceremonies across the road from his home, absorbing the sounds, stories and spirit of his community long before he ever stepped onto a stage.
At home, conversations about freedom and the future of South Africa unfolded around him. Leaders of the struggle, including Nelson Mandela, passed through his family home while a young Sipho quietly listened, watched and learned.
“Becoming a musician was honestly by default,” says Mabuse. “And I wouldn’t want to say I regret it. I am grateful. Because look where I am now.”
What followed was not fame overnight, but years of sacrifice, discipline and relentless dedication to his craft. Long before the awards, the sold-out performances and the status of legend, there were empty venues, difficult seasons and countless unseen hours of work.
“The two hours that you’re asking me to come and perform took me 56 years of everyday work,” he reflects.
For Old Khaki, this is exactly what Materials That Matter stands for: people whose stories are built over time. People shaped by community, perseverance and heart. People whose influence cannot be measured by trends, but by the impact they leave on others.
Best known for timeless hits like Burnout, Hotstix has helped shape the soundtrack of modern South Africa. Yet despite his extraordinary success, his story remains deeply rooted in gratitude and human connection. “You become a person because other people lifted you, other people embraced you, other people celebrated you,” he says.
Today, more than fifty years into his career, Hotstix continues to create, perform and inspire. Carrying the same belief that music should bring people together and move society forward. “Music is a voice. It’s a voice that should be used constructively to develop a society.”
With Materials That Matter, Old Khaki continues to honour South Africans whose stories remind us of what truly lasts: authenticity, craftsmanship, resilience and the connections that shape who we become.
Read more about Hotstix’s story on Old Khaki’s blog: https://www.oldkhaki.co.za/page/blog-music-sipho-hotstix-mabuse
