GROWING UP AT NUMBER 13"

" Hugh Masekela, Caiphus Semenya, Sonny Stitt, Johny Coltrain, Miles Davis, Black Mambazo, Eddie Harris, Ella Fitzgerald. Their music resonates through my earliest memories. Our house was always filled with music and I fondly recall my mother performing a really mean Ella Fitzgerald impersonation - man she could scat any baby to sleep, her voice was awesome".

Bob Mabena was born west of Pretoria in Atteridgevile in July 1969 at "number 13" Molaudzi Street in an area called Matebeleng. His parents were both ball room dancers. Their marriage did not last very long and three children later, they divorced.
" My cousins, uncles, aunts, grand mother, my mother, my two brothers; Victor and Jeffrey and I all lived in a four roomed house that overflowed with love and music. My grand mom Fredah Mabena was the head of the home and she valiantly kept the family together through difficult times. At one stage she was the only bread winner in the house, carrying the sole responsibility of having to feed six children".

Bob's mother was the first born and a "true rebel" - perhaps as a result of a very strict upbringing. Bob himself was a quiet, unassuming child learning from an early age to stay out of the way. He would often retreat to his own special corner of the house to savour his favourite meal - pap and inkomazi. The strongly matriarchal Mabena household would later prove to be a positive influence on Bob in adulthood. In October 1980, Bob's childhood was tragically and unexpectedly torn apart when his brother passed away. And later in that same year, Bob lost his mother - he was just 11 years old.

" The last memory I have of my mother is when I went to show her my grade seven report. She was in a TB hospital. She didn't say much but she was brimming with pride. Eventually she saw me to the gate. I walked for about 2km and when I turned around, she was still there - looking at me as if to say goodbye. A few days later she passed away. I will always remember that day".
Bob was very close to his mother and his brother, but on reflection, he acknowledges that experiencing such great loss at such a tender age has made him a stronger person.

" This experience always re-affirms my belief that 'God will not give you a challenge he knows you will not overcome'. Knowing this gives me strength and comfort."
Soon after his mother's death, Bob grew even closer to his grand mother. He spent many a day simply gleaning insight from her infinite "pearls of wisdom". Bob was essentially raised by his grand mother and although prevailing circumstances resulted in him having being moved from one relative to another, he did eventually return to her at "number 13".

" I remember telling her that I would not be going back to school, after failing matric. She simply asked if I thought it would make me happy being a Dj and if it would pay the bills. Soon after that, I left Attridgeville to join radio Bop."
In 2001 Fredah Mabena passed away.

" The fondest memory I have of my grand mom is the Christmas of 1992. I went home unannounced and found her all alone. I asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she said she was just so happy that I had come home. All she wanted to do was open all the house doors and sing along to a song she liked at the time...and she did. She danced and sung U2's I still haven't found what I'm looking for to her heart's content. And whenever I hear that song I remember that moment."
" Number 13" Molaudzi still stands as a family home and Bob still visits to this day.

THE SCHOOL YEARS

Bob's first school was Kgabo Lower Primary. No-one would have guessed that this shy child would end up in the entertainment business - He did not even make the school choir!
Bob went on to attend Mboweni Secondary, where he endured harsh criticism from teachers who expected him to perform like his elder brother Victor.
" Well I suppose it wasn't all bad - I remember certain teachers: Mr Motsomane, Mr. Mashego 'Mr Money', Mrs Mnisi and Mrs Mokoboto - all having a positive influence on my academic career".

But it was at High School where Bob's life really started to take shape. Saulridge was nicknamed Batswadi meaning "parents" - by the locals, because a lot of girls who had had babies, were allowed the opportunity to complete their education at the school. The principal, Mr Kwakwa was a very astute and respectable man. Under the tutelage of teachers such as Mr Mangena (Bob's favorite teacher of all time), the school had an unspoken code of conduct. English was a priority subject for Bob and Mrs Mashiane stopped at nothing to encourage his interest. In her quest to see Bob improve his English, she set up a debate committee. Initially students showed no interest in debate and the committee had to come up with a plan to lure them.

Unbeknown to anyone, this plan proved to be just the outlet Bob needed to unleash his potential as a performer. He would debate and then go on to entertain his audience. Rapping LL Cool J's I need love was his first stage performance.
" I really cherish that moment because I knew right away that I was going to be a rapper or a disc jockey".
High School however also brought its own set of challenges. Bob joined the SRC and was appointed secretary during the political turbulence of 1994. He was also kicked out of school for "messing with" the SADF. He went live with his uncle in an attempt to complete his high school education in Soshanguve, but further school unrest saw him returning to Saulridge. His grandmother successfully pleaded with the principal Mr Mokoboto and Bob was re-admitted.

By his matric year Bob was convinced that showbiz was his destiny and he decided to actively pursue the Dj route. There was only one person who could train him in Atteridgevile; a man they called "green mustache" Correy. However Correy had the reputation of being one of the meanest Djs in Pretoria. He was feared by many and respected by those who had had the "misfortune" of crossing his path. Bob however was not to be deterred, and his bravado paid off. By asking Correy for tutorship on how to mix club style, Bob became a Dj at Tsherama, Atteridgeville's first Nite Club and later became the first radio Dj to mix live in studio. All this happened in Bob's matric year and needles to say, something had to give. His studies suffered and he failed his exams - an episode which on reflection, he now regrets.