Bra Hugh Passes On

On this day, 23 January 2018, a South African jazz and Afro-fusion music icon, Hugh Masekela, passed away peacefully at his home in Johannesburg, South Africa, surrounded by his family. He died after a battle with prostate cancer.

Hugh Ramopolo Masekela, affectionately known as Bra Hugh, was born on 4 April 1939 in KwaGuqa Township in Emalahleni (Witbank), Mpumalanga Province. Masekela showed musical ability from a young age, and began to play piano as a child. Inspired by the movie “Young Man with a Horn”, at the age of 14, Masekela began to play the trumpet, encouraged by anti-apartheid activist Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, an anti-apartheid Christian priest at St Peter’s Secondary School (now known as St. Martin’s School, Rosettenville), who helped him acquire the instrument.

At Huddleston’s request, Masekela then received tuition in trumpet playing from Uncle Sauda, who played for the Johannesburg ‘Native’ Municipal Brass Band. Masekela soon mastered the trumpet, and began to play with other aspiring musicians in the Huddleston Jazz Band – South Africa’s first youth orchestra.

At the end of 1959, Dollar Brand (later known as Abdullah Ibrahim), Kippie Moeketsi, Makhaya Ntshoko, Jonas Gwangwa, Johnny Gertze and Hugh formed the Jazz Epistles. Masekela also collaborated with famous icons like Miriam Makeba, Zimbabwean Dorothy Masuka, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Hedzoleh Soundz, Francis Fuster and Dudu Pukwana.

Masekela also formed an integral part of the orchestra for the South African Broadway-style musical King Kong, which was written by Todd Matshikiza. This took place after Masekela toured with the jazz band the Manhattan Brothers in 1958, and was even featured on London’s West End for two years. This successful musical featured many of the above-mentioned artists.

After the Sharpeville Massacre, Masekela was assisted by Huddleston and other international friends to study in America. Therefore, in 1961, Masekela went into exile – went to study at the London Guildhall School of Music, and later the Manhattan School of Music, where he befriended Harry Belafonte.

He composed and recorded many new songs in New York, including his 1968 number one hit ‘Grazing in the Grass’; played primarily in jazz ensembles, like the Union of South Africa, with Jonas Gwangwa and Caiphus Semenya; and successfully collaborated with international artists like Fela Kuti and The Byrds.

In the 1980s, Masekela set up a mobile studio in Botswana, where he further developed his musical style using African mbaqanga strains. He performed with Paul Simon on the Graceland tour, along with Ray Phiri and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. He also defended Paul Simon vigorously when the tour was seen as a violation of the ANC’s (African National Congress’) cultural boycott. His 1987 hit ‘Bring Him Back Home’ became the anthem for Nelson Mandela’s world tour, following his release from prison in 1992.

Bra Hugh had also produced music for the musicals like Sarafina, and was featured in the 2003 documentary film Amandla! His musical style continues to incorporate various African styles fused with jazz and funk, and has evolved into more of an adult contemporary style, which can be heard on his various (+-50) albums.

Masekela continued to produce music and tour extensively throughout the world, which included a 2007 tour to the USA and Canada to promote the live recording, “Hugh Masekela: Live at the Market Theatre”. He was also nominated for a Grammy award for “Best Contemporary Pop Performance-Instrumental” as far back as 1968.

Bra Hugh was deeply affected by his life experiences, and therefore made music that reflected his experiences in the harsh political climate of South Africa during the 1950s and 1960s. His music therefore portrays the struggles and joys of living in South Africa, and voiced protest against slavery, colonialism and apartheid.

According to Bra Hugh, “My biggest obsession is to show Africans and the world who the people of Africa really are.”

Castro Khwela
Good day fellow Compatriots!