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people & arts Wednesday 24 January 2018
South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela dies at 78

By KRISTA MAHR Africa in 1990 after Man- his music and mobilizing
Associated Press dela was freed and the international support ... His
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — African National Congress contribution to the struggle
Hugh Masekela, the leg- party was unbanned. He for liberation will never be
endary South African jazz released more than 40 al- forgotten.”
musician and anti-apart- bums, and toured in South U.N. Secretary-General
heid activist, has died after Africa and internationally Antonio Guterres “recog-
a decade-long fight with until late last year. nizes the historical role that
cancer. He was 78. Sal Masekela, Masekela’s he played during the fight
Often called the “Father son who is also a musician, against apartheid and the
of South African jazz,” wrote in a statement that fight for freedom and hu-
Masekela died in Johan- it was “difficult to compre- man rights after the fall of
nesburg after what his hend that this moment is apartheid,” U.N. spokes-
family said Tuesday was a real,” recalling his father’s man Stephane Dujarric
“protracted and coura- performances in New York said. “He was a global
geous battle with prostate when he would “steal the cultural icon that will be
cancer.” hearts and souls of inno- missed by people all over
Masekela was a rare art- cents with a musical story- the world.”
ist who succeeded in fus- telling all his own.” In an April 29, 2006 file photo, Hugh Masekela performs during Masekela inspired genera-
ing politics with his music, “My biggest obsession is the 2006 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans. tions of musicians in jazz
making his songs and per- to show Africans and the Associated Press and beyond and collabo-
formances compelling and world who the people of one of the great architects Jacob Zuma expressed rated in recent years with
timeless. Africa really are,” Hugh of Afro-Jazz and he up- his condolences, saying South African house mu-
Trumpeter, singer and Masekela is quoted as say- lifted the soul of our nation Masekela “kept the torch sic DJ Black Coffee, who
composer Masekela, af- ing on his official website. through his timeless music.” of freedom alive globally, tweeted Tuesday: “I have
fectionately known locally In October last year, South African President fighting apartheid through no words.”q
as “Bra Hugh,” started Masekela issued a state-
playing the horn at 14. He ment that he had been
quickly became an inte- fighting prostate cancer
gral part of the 1950s jazz since 2008 and would have
scene in Johannesburg as to cancel his professional
a member of the band the commitments to focus on
Jazz Epistles and a mem- his health.
ber of the orchestra in the He said he started treat-
groundbreaking jazz opera ment after doctors found a
“King Kong.” “small ‘speck’” on his blad-
In the 1960s he went into der, and had surgery in
exile in the United Kingdom March 2016 after the can-
and the United States, us- cer spread.
ing his music to spread Masekela also said he felt
awareness about South an “imbalance” and had
Africa’s oppressive system an eye problem after a fall
of white-minority rule. He in April in Morocco in which
scored an international No. he sprained his shoulder.
1 hit in 1968 with “Grazing In He said another tumor was
The Grass.” then discovered and he
Masekela spent time in had surgery.
both New York and Los An- “I’m in a good space, as I
geles, performing at the battle this stealthy disease,
1967 Monterey Pop Festival and I urge all men to have
with some of the era’s most regular tests to check your
iconic musicians, including own condition,” his state-
Janis Joplin, Otis Redding ment said, asking the me-
and Jimi Hendrix. He col- dia for privacy.
laborated with many musi- Masekela supported many
cians including Herb Alpert charities and was a direc-
and was married to South tor of the Lunchbox Fund,
African singer and activ- a non-profit organization to
ist Miriam Makeba for two provide daily meals to stu-
years. dents in Soweto township.
Many of his compositions Condolences from fans
were about the struggle for poured out Tuesday on so-
majority rule and full demo- cial media paying tribute
cratic rights in South Africa. to the influential musician’s
Masekela’s catchy upbeat career.
1987 song “Bring Him Back “A baobob tree has fallen,”
Home” calling for Nelson Nathi Mthethwa, South Af-
Mandela’s release from rica’s minister for arts and
prison became an interna- culture, wrote on Twitter.
tional anthem for the anti- “The nation has lost a one
apartheid movement. of a kind musician . We can
Masekela returned to South safely say Bra Hugh was