 Legendary jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela, a leading figure in the struggle to end apartheid and "the father of South African jazz", has died aged 78. In a statement, his family said he had "passed peacefully" in Johannesburg "after a protracted and courageous battle with prostate cancer". Masekela gained global recognition with his distinctive Afro-Jazz sound and hits such as Soweto Blues. The 1977 song became synonymous with the anti-apartheid movement.
In a statement , South African President Jacob Zuma said Masekela's death was "an immeasurable loss to the music industry and to the country at large". Zuma continued: "His contribution to the struggle for liberation will never be forgotten." Source : BBC.co.uk |
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