South Africa Jazz Father Hugh Masekela dies at the age of 78
Masekela lost his battle with prostate cancer, for which he had been treated since 2008.
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
— Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) January 23, 2018
Masekela helped launch the career of Miriam Makeba whom he later married in 1964. The coupe divorced two years later.
Through his music, Masekela has been a staunch political activist and he has worked, lived and performed across the globe. During his career, he also amassed an incredible number of awards and other accolades including the Order of Ikhamanga. He also held two honorary doctorates from Rhodes University and the University of York.
In October, he cancelled a scheduled performance at the Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival in Rockville, Soweto to dedicate himself to battling the disease and called on all men to go for regular cancer check-ups.