*Friends and family gathered to remember slain South African reggae star Lucky Dube at a memorial service for the artist held at the Bassline, a popular Johannesburg music venue, according to AP.

His band entertained a crowd of up to 1500 fans -- many wearing the Rastafarian colors of green, gold and red - watching on a large screen outside the service by playing some of his songs.

Dube, 43, was gunned down last week in an apparent carjacking attempt while his two children watched.

"We have lost a legend, an icon," Skipha Shabalala, lead guitarist with Dube's band, said Wednesday. "Why was this man killed in such a brutal and barbaric manner?"

Dube, who launched his career in the 1980s with criticism of the apartheid regime, grew to become a huge international star, recording more than 20 albums and sharing stages with other icons such as Michael Jackson , Peter Gabriel , Ziggy Marley and Sting.

"We as a nation are shocked and saddened at the news. With this senseless and disturbing act a great spirit has been taken from us. It is a loss felt by millions throughout the world," said Ivor Haarburger, chief executive of Gallo Records.

Two of Dube's seven children took to the stage at the end of the service to read out an emotional statement from the family:

"We are going to miss you forever!"

Meanwhile, five people were arrested, between the ages of 31 and 35, in an early morning raid on a house east of Johannesburg on Sunday in connection with the murder. They will appear in court on Tuesday, according to Police spokesman Superinten-dent Eugene Opperman.