South African Father of Jazz, Hugh Masekela Goes To Rest At 78

Hardship in South Africa during the days of Apartheid created a culture of resistance and protest that was embodied by the likes of political figures like Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo. The culture pervaded simply politics and spread to the arts where it was personified by artists like Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba. Unfortunately, following a ten year fight with prostate cancer, the South African father of Jazz music went to rest today in Johannesburg.

Masekela who was at the forefront of the struggle against the Apartheid government was sent into exile in 1960 shortly after the Sharpeville Massacre which claimed the lives of 69 people. Following an education across the UK and US, Masekela relocated to Botswana where he established the Botswana International School of Music. Masekela was also responsible for the record, Bring Him Back Home which was considered one of the unofficial anthems of the anti-apartheid movement.

Read the tributes that have poured in from politicians and musicians around the world.

https://twitter.com/hughmasekela/status/955713727088775168

https://twitter.com/_kierandodds/status/955743741729525761

A baobab tree has fallen, the nation has lost a one of a kind musician with the passing of Jazz legend bra Hugh Masekela. We can safely say bra Hugh was one of the great architects of Afro-Jazz and he uplifted the soul of our nation through his timeless music. #RIPBraHughMasekela pic.twitter.com/JVy47GA6aU

— Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) January 23, 2018

https://twitter.com/RealBlackCoffee/status/955836051062390784

https://twitter.com/PresidentKE/status/955757745986326535

https://twitter.com/Jidenna/status/955769940090540032

Hugh Masekela taught me more about South African culture and politics than anyone I ever met. A great musician and songwriter, he was also one of the wittiest people I’ve known. I never had a bad moment in his company.

— Paul Simonhttps://t.co/4UdkUjbSnB

— Paul Simon (@PaulSimonMusic) January 23, 2018

https://twitter.com/burnaboy/status/955846942864674818