Pioneering South African DJ Spoko dies, age 35

South Africa's DJ Spoko— real name Marvin Ramalepe— has died aged 35, due to complications arising from a long-term illness, according to reports. 

An underground icon in South Africa, he was regarded as one of the leading lights in the so-called Bacardi house scene, an offshoot of kwaito, just one of the prominent genres in the country's fertile dance scene.

Spoko also produced on DJ Mujava's best-selling 'Township Funk', and most recently worked with Matias Aguayo on the Cómeme-released 'Dirty Dancing' EP.

Bacardi house and and kwaito is covered in the recent anthology of dance music, Rave On, and next month sees the first ever Bazique boutique festival take place.