Death of the trumpeter, south african Hugh Masekela

AFP

AFP

Tuesday, 23 January, 2018 04:01

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Tuesday, 23 January, 2018 04:01

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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa | The legend of south african jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela, died Tuesday at the age of 78 years died of cancer, has announced his family, inciting a rain of tributes to greet his long career and his commitment against apartheid.

“It is with great sadness that the family of Ramapolo Hugh Masekela announces his death. After a courageous battle against prostate cancer, he died peacefully in Johannesburg, surrounded by his loved ones,” says a press release of his family.

“The nation mourns one of its talents to the signature, the most characteristic,” responded the president of south africa Jacob Zuma. “It is a loss immeasurable to the world of music, and the entire country. We must not forget his contribution to the struggle for liberation”, he added.

“A baobab has fallen,” responded the south african minister of Culture Nathi Mthethwa. “The nation has lost a musician of exception, ( … ), we can without hesitation say that brother Hugh was one of the great architects of afro-jazz and as he lifted the soul of our nation thanks to his timeless music”.

Hugh Masekela had fled the apartheid regime in the 1960s and was not returned to his country after the release in 1990 of Nelson Mandela, the spearhead of the fight against racism.

Among his greatest songs include “Bring Him Back Home” (bring him home), where he called for the release of Nelson Mandela, and “Grazing in the Grass”.

As a teenager, the musician was given his first trumpet of a priest engaged in the fight against apartheid, Trevor Huddlestone. “I’ve taken it and I felt like a fish in water”, told he.