Curtains Fall for South African Jazz Legend

Legendary Jazz musician Hugh Ramapolo Masekela died on Tuesday 23 January at 78 after battling prostate cancer, which was diagnosed in 2008.

He was born on April 4, 1939.He was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer and singer, and has been described as the father of South African jazz.

Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for writing well-known anti-apartheid songs such as “Soweto Blues” and “Bring Him Back Home”. He also had a number 1 US pop hit in 1968 with his version of “Grazing in the Grass”.

He has been able to collaborate with musicians such as Byrds, Paul Simon and Miriam Makeba.

He is survived by his wife Elinam Cofie, and two children Pula Twala and Selema Masekela.

South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma paid tribute to Masekela stating that the music industry has suffered a great loss.

Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta mourned the fallen jazz player by terming him as a friend and appreciating his effort and contribution to fight apathied.

He was inspired by the film “Young Man with a Horn” as a teenager, and received Louis Armstrong ‘s trumpet as a gift.