We have lost a friend, associate, and an incredible human being in Mpozi Tolbert. Please find below a compilation of all the articles from The Indianapolis Star (where Mpozi worked) and The Philadelphia Inquirer. If you can't click them all, please at least check out Okayplayer's photo tribute and the news story video from IndyStar.com. Thank you.




Mpozi "PoZi" Mshale Tolbert
1972 - 2006


Okayplayer remembers Mpozi Tolbert

Our slideshow of some of his earlier photographs set to a dub mix Mpozi made of Steel Pulse's "Your House"

Okayplayers pay respect in this message board thread

First ever featured Okayplayer photographer.


PoZi's Myspace Page

MpoziSpace
"I went to school with Mpozi. He was the nicest dude that you ever wanted to meet. He always saw the bright side of things and always had a joke to tell. Mpozi was dedicated to his life and to his art. For real, he IS the sole documenter of all that is Square Roots. He was the cat that made me wanna document my travels via the camera. All that photojournalism shit I try to do I got from Mpozi Tolbert."
- Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson

In 1999, the point when myself, Angiee, Doug (newguy) and ?uesto were building what would become Okayplayer.com. Mpozi was the GO TO GUY in many clutch situations. I mean the visuals for the beginnings of Okayplayer (photo visuals not graphics) were probably 70%-80% Mpozi. He always had a picture for us, regardless of what time of the night Ang would email him, he would always come though. Mpozi never asked for anything in return, he was just happy to help out. - Shawn Gee


Mpozi Mshale Tolbert, Photographer, DJ, artist has died in Indianapolis. Mpozi was a fixture in the Indianapolis music scene and held down a residency with the Crush Star Crew (Revolution Sundays at the Casba, Indianapolis feat Indiana Jones, Danger) playing some deep dub at the night's end. He has recently been playing with DJ Dicky Fox at deano's vino on Tuesdays as well. He has photographed The Roots and Jay Dee among others.


Articles from The Indianapolis Star

News story video, click here. Indy Star's photo slide show.

Star photographer Mpozi Tolbert, 34, dies
Mpozi Mshale Tolbert, 6 feet 6 inches tall with dreadlocks down to his waist, never blended in. You had to notice him. He stuck out -- almost always grinning, forever seeing the possibilities in life, chuckling at its foibles. [read]


He took his best shot, at life and on assignment
"I was deeply saddened at the news of the death of Star photographer Mpozi Tolbert. I am a former reporter for The Star and I had a chance to cover several news events with this extraordinary man." [read]

Tolbert's photos captured essence of life
When I saw Star photographer Mpozi Tolbert recently at the 51st Talbot Street Art Fair on June 11, I could not have imagined that would be the last time I would see him. [read]

Missing Mpozi and his sense of humor
The loss of Mpozi Tolbert is a great loss for our city. I work for a security company and I would see Mpozi at many of the events I worked. Most recently I talked with him at Jazz Fest this year. He was always cheerful and very mindful of others. We became good friends, and could pick each other up with a funny line or look if one of us were down. I will miss my friend, but I know that he is OK and looking down on us with that big smile of his. - Brad Johnson


Articles from The Philadelphia Inquirer

Mpozi Tolbert, 34, photographer of city's music scene
"He was a gentle giant whose infectious laugh echoed throughout the newsroom," Star colleague Matt Detrich said. "Now it is quiet in here, like a bad dream." [read]

Mpozi Tolbert, 34, photographer
Star editor Dennis Ryerson said Tolbert had a "big heart and a kind heart. I have seen him several times with subjects he was photographing, and he was, with them, as he always was with us - totally courteous, with a kind sense of humor." [read]