Hugh Masekela,A Victim of Music

By Quibell Ramantswana , 26 Oct 2009

The Musical Journey Of Hugh MasekelaWe have been told a lot of interesting and sad stories by our grandparents,one might wonder what life was like back in the Fifties.

In 1954, a young man, age 14, from Witbank, South Africa by the name of Hugh Ramopolo Masekela, was called by the music ancestors.

It all started after he watched the movie ‘Young Man With A Horn’. At the time he’d already mastered the piano, playing since the age of six.

In God’s favour, Acrhbishop Trevor Huddlestone, had seen the potential in young Masekela. The Archbishop generosity became practical; he showed his approval by giving the young lad the gift that changed his life, the trumpet! That was the beginning of the African icon’s music career.

Jazz music is what has made Hugh one of the most prominent musicians that Africa has brought into the world. What mystifies people about his music is that it appeals to all audience of different age, ID holders included.

“Nobody is a legend because when we were born, we were born naked. Everything that we get, we get it from the people who raise us”

The belief ‘Jazz-music-is-for-older-people’ has never materialized with Masekela’s music.No wonder even the younger artists, such as Thandiswa Mazwai have collaborated with him.

Masekela’s songs have a unique touch which includes: street songs, church songs, migrant labour songs, political protest songs and the sound of the wide-section of ethnic culture in South Africa.

It’s quite hard to talk about his music without getting political. His songs have been blessing people across the world, mainly Africans, as the struggle of South Africa took its toll.

His messages through music gave the nation hope to survive the difficult times the country went through. Many will remember his classic songs, such as, Freedom song, Bring back Nelson Mandela, Stimela, Thanayi, Kawuleza, and many more.

Today, fifty-five years on, he is still in the music business and still giving the performances of a young man. Realistically, is unlikely for most musicians to last that long in the industry.

Nonetheless, Hugh doesn’t seem to be thinking of calling it quits anytime soon. After his recent great performances in Australia and San Fransisco, both places were still calling for his trumpet, and kicking up a fuss about him not visiting them more often - his anticipated showdown gig is in London, on the 5th December - It’s apparent that if the music world doesn’t stop, our African icon won’t rest!

During his career Masekela has lived in numerous countries around the world, including: America, the UK, Jamaica, Nigeria, and Senegal. He continues to obey what he was required to do; show the whole world his passion of African music.

You can easily be tempted to call Bra Hugh Masekela, a Living-Legend or Music Giant. However, that title is something he doesn’t associate himself with,
he claims that the term legend doesn’t exist:

“And I didn’t go after music, music came after me, invaded me, and I am a victim of music! If there is any achievement I think music achieved something!”

“Nobody is a legend because when we were born, we were born naked. Everything that we get, we get it from the people who raise us (ie Parents).They taught me how to think, how to talk and supported me that I lived free in their house.If I was anything, I would never have been anything without them and that’s true! When we get some notice we think is us, but we didn’t bring anything here. If somebody tells you they are a legend, run for the hills because you are in a wrong company.”

Talking about Jamaica, Usain Bolt might have broke the world record in Athletics, but the man who touched the world’s heart; the man who made reggae music known to the world; the man the future generation is still going to talk/read about, is the world legend, Bob Marley. His great loss was felt by millions but particularly by his close friend, Hugh:

“When I met Bob Marley, he was 16 years old, trying to make it; he was just forming the Wailers. He used to try and dance in front of the microphone, and I told him that the mic doesn’t record dancing.We remained friend for many years, it was a very sad thing when he told me that he was dying. He was one of the greatest losses of the African World and music world.”

After numerous years, Hugh has worked with countless African and world legends - The late Louis Armstrong is one of them. He recalls the time he spent with Armstrong after he was introduced by the late Mother Africa, Miriam Makeba, in 1962, at the Grammy Awards in America. He might have passed on but his memory and
advice still inspires Hugh. One piece of advice that made Hugh admire him even more was to:”Never forget where you come from; where you get your music from, because if you forget that, you are not going anywhere. I think is the greatest advice I got from most of the great musician”

Counting what Hugh has achieved during all those years, I’m fairly certain that we could end up writing another chapter of his success. But achievement was never on the cards.

“I never went out to achieve anything. I was just obsessed with music from the time I was two years old, when I first started to think. And I didn’t go after music, music came after me, invaded me, and I am a victim of music! If there is any achievement I think music achieved something!”

Whilst everyone is still jumping with excitement when ever the famous numbers ‘2010′ are mentioned - the history to be made when South Africa host World Cup for the first time - Hugh, however, is concerned:

“What I’m worried about is what after the World Cup. If we can use the World Cup to show off who (we) really are then we are doing something great because this is the only time, the only chance! We have to show the world who we really are!”

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