Staff Blog
Mpozi, 1972-2006
Wednesday, July 5th, 2006 at 11:18 am
posted by a.d. amorosi
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| The Square Roots |
| Mpozi Mshale Tolbert |
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| Ahmir and Jimi through Mpozi's eyes |
| Mpozi Mshale Tolbert |
Still stupefied from yesterday's news that my friend — our friend — Mpozi Mshale Tolbert had died suddenly, I found a few things out from our spiritual sister, Stef Renee.
- That photographer Tolbert, now at Indianapolis' Star, had been looking at shots the night of July 3 for the next issue of the paper.
- That he was found with no pulse, at his desk, before medics arrived. He was only 34 years old.
- That his family was heard to have had a history of heart problems.
- That Ahmir Thompson — ?uestlove of The Roots — would gather folks from all over for a memorial celebration of Mpozi's life and work.
The Star has a couple nice tributes to Mpozi on its site, a message board of remembrances, and a gallery of his work (there's a javascript link from The Star's homepage in the left-hand column).
There's a nice tribute up at Okayplayer.com, a message board thread and a gallery of Mpozi's old Roots shots there as well.
Related: BH remembers Mpozi; Philebrity remembers.
UPDATE
Services for Mpozi Mshale Tolbert have been announced.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mpozi in 1995 when he was an intern at the Post-Tribune in my hometown of Gary, IN. I was a staff writer for the weekly newspaper, The Crusader and would run into him at a couple of events. A laid-back but friendly and sweet guy.
I’m still in shock. If there was anyone full of life, it was Mpozi. A warm, wonderful man with a heart as big as his talent. And oh that smile. I remember he was our CP photographer at like 18 or something. He was a ridiculous talent at such an early age. When ever he’d turn in a photo at CP he’d draw these little doodles above his signature — a squirelly caricature of himself with the dreads and the giant wide-eyes. He was always wide-eyed for a story, throwing himself into the mix — an early roots concert, an angry protest at the republican convention, a fashion shoot in Fishtown. Damn it. It’s just wrong that he’s gone. But may he rest in peace. He will be very, very missed.
At least we have some beautiful photographs…
http://www.citypaper.net/articles/071797/article022.shtml
I knew Pozi for years, though I lost touch with him in recent years, because I knew his parents and worked with them at various times. I got to know him as a person meeting him on the train and on Philadelphia Center City streets as he and I went about our work. He was, as a teen and as a man, a very fine young man - kind, intelligent, thoughtful, and very aware of the importance of “giving something back”. He was always a credit to his parents, his extended family, and to this city. I know he will be sorely mourned and missed.
Mpozi and I crossed paths for the first time at my CP desk in 2002, only a few months after I was hired as the staff photographer. He came by to introduce himself as a former shooter and we ended up talking for over an hour about our love of music. After that conversation slowed we began talking about our common love of photography and all the challenges this amazing carreer presents. Photographers are by nature withdrawn, sometimes anti-social and often too competitive. I could tell immediately that Mpozi’s spirit was soaring way above the petty aspects of the photographic rat race. Although I didn’t know him well, I do know his spirit and energy will be missed greatly. The world needs more photographers like Mpozi.
Has anyone heard of services for Mpozi in philly, please reply to:
nappy155@yahoo.com