A South African musician with a brain tumor was allowed to play his guitar during a successful operation to remove much of the growth.

Musa Manzini was given local anesthetic during what doctors call an "awake craniotomy" this month at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban.

Dr. Rohen Harrichandparsad, one of the surgeons, said Saturday that Manzini's guitar-playing provided "real-time feedback" as the medical team removed most of the tumor while preserving neural pathways.

Harrichandparsad says Manzini was given his guitar toward the end of the hours-long procedure, as doctors checked that everything was in order.

A photo and video taken by the medical team show Manzini lying with his guitar in the operating room.

"There you are, do your thing," a team member says as he begins playing.