Bra Johnny Mekoa: Jazz Giant

Bra Johnny Mekoa: Jazz Giant Bra Johnny was born John Ramakhobotla Mekoa on 11 April 1945. Mekoa was a man who had had the foot of the apartheid system at his throat, but had fought back with everything he had. In 1967, Mekoa started performing professionally with the Early Mabuza Big Five, playing trumpet and flugelhorn. “It was an incredible band,” recalls Mekoa. The band comprised Mabuza on drums, Ernest Mothle on double bass and Busi Mhlongo on vocals, as well as (Barney) Rachabane and (Pat) Matshikiza. Mekoa broke away in 1968 and formed his band, the Jazz Ministers, with founding members Aubrey Simani (alto), Furnace Goduka (tenor), Duncan Madondo (tenor), Fanyana Sehloho (bass), Shepstone Sothoane (drums) and Boy Ngwenya (piano). Composer Victor Ndlazilwana joined later as musical director. In 1972, the band was invited to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival in the United States, but were denied visas for the trip. Mekoa said he was bitterly disappointed. It was a disappointment he got used to. Mekoa said his quest to get a music education at the University of Natal and Indiana University was with one goal in mind: “I had this thing in me that one day I was going to open a music school.” Bra Johnny established the Music Academy of Gauteng in 1994, which has become a centre of jazz excellence, with luminaries such as Malcolm Jiyane, Mthunzi Mvubu, Mpho Mabogoane (female trombonist), Nthabiseng Mokoena and Linda Tshabalala (both female saxophonist