adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
RENOWNED South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela has praised Zimbabwean musicians for upholding traditional music. Masekela, fondly known as Bra Hugh, singled out superstar Oliver Mtukudzi, Victor Kunonga and the late Chiwoniso Maraire for their contribution to the jazz genre. The legendary jazz crooner was on holiday in Victoria Falls at the weekend
“I’m focused on indigenous music and don’t think regionally because I’m not a regional musician. In fact, I don’t recognise borders because they are colonial…borders are the reason why there is so much xenophobia because they separate people who are related to each other,” said Bra Hugh.
The musician, who last November hosted the Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival an annual event in honour of Heritage month, as well as the community of Soweto had visited Victoria Falls for a breather.
Bra Hugh said he was working on separate projects with his long time friend Mtukudzi and a female jazz artiste whom he said would be replacing the late mbira sensation Chiwoniso Maraire.
“I spend a lot of my time travelling worldwide so I needed some time to rest and decided to come to Zimbabwe. But I often come here because I’m working on a project with Oliver and the lady. I was going to do the project with Chiwoniso but since she is late, I’ve decided to work with this lady,” he said.
Bra Hugh, who after releasing more than 50 albums and feels no pressure to release new songs said the single he was working on with Tuku would be out in July.
While in Victoria Falls, Bra Hugh visited a number of places such as the Art Gallery where he viewed artefacts and had lunch at Moringa Bar where he mingled with fans. He also met some music promoters such as Blessing
Munyenyiwa, Pinias Sibanda and Sam Mataure who hosted him.
The jazz sensation who turns 76 in April has carried the rhythms, languages, memories, social consciousness and spirit of Africa worldwide throughout his career spanning over decades.
Online Reporter