JOHANNESBURG, January 24 (ANA) - The International Committee of AFRIMA (All Africa Music Awards) said on Wednesday that it will pay tribute to South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela in a glorifying spectacle at its fifth edition scheduled to take place in November.
Masekela, the father of South African jazz music, died at his home in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning after a protracted battle with prostate cancer. He was 78 years old.
Masekela received three nominations at the 2017 AFRIMA Awards in the categories of 'Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa' for his recent single 'Shango', 'Album of the Year' for his recent album 'No Borders' and for the 'Best Artiste in African Jazz'.
He was scheduled to be at the host city, Lagos, in Nigeria for the 2017 AFRIMA Awards in November but was unable to make it due to his ill health.
Mike Dada, the president and executive producer of AFRIMA, said that Masekela's death was a huge loss for the continent and African music.
Dada said that these three nominations showed that the legend waxed strong until his last breath.
"Masekela's music had the depth, the lyricism and the instrumentation that place the legend in the class of world music classics with a definitive signature of its African sound. The music icon will be greatly missed but his music and struggle for free and prosperous Africa will always be in our hearts and minds," Dada said.
Masekela gained global recognition with his distinctive Afro-Jazz sound and hit song-Soweto Blues which served as one of the soundtracks to the anti-apartheid movement. His career spanned over five decades in which he released 40 albums and gained international recognition.
Masekela had close friendships with, and performed alongside jazz legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charlie Mingus, and Paul Simon.
Simon said: "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."
Meanwhile, Masekela's family will for the first time address the nation later on Wednesday in a media briefing and release the details of his memorial service and funeral services.
- African News Agency (ANA)
