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South Africa: Country Mourns Death of Lucky Dube
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
19 October 2007
Posted to the web 19 October 2007
Pretoria
Reggae superstar Lucky Dube will be remembered for musical genius and efforts to create a better world, writes Sholain Govender and Gabi Khumalo.
Lucky Phillip Dube was shot and killed by would-be hijackers Thursday evening in Rosettenville, Johannesburg and friends, fans and fellow musicians of Mr Dube are in shock at the loss of such a great South African.
Mr Dube was born in Ermelo on 3 August 1964. After a few failed pregnancy attempts by his mother Sarah, Lucky came into the world. Giving birth to a boy was considered a blessing and his mother considered his birth so fortunate that she aptly named him "Lucky".
This luck followed him for decades as he accumulated an incredible 21 albums under his musical belt, and proved himself one of not only South Africa's, but also the world's greatest reggae according to the Gallo Music Group.
His recording company said he was "a man with superb musical taste and genius, an artist with a message, with a reason and a rhyme behind everything he does".
"As one can judge by listening to his music, he has a message on every album. His songs are based on three main things - political issues, social issues and personal issues - things that play an important role in everyone's lives."
When asked what inspired him Mr Dube answered: "People! Looking at people, watching people's movements, the things they do. My songs are based on real life situations and experiences."
He released his first reggae album in 1984 and toured the world sharing the stage with Maxi Priest, Sinead O'Connor, Peter Gabriel, Michael Jackson, Seal, Ziggy Marley, Celine Dion, Sting, amongst others.
He also won over 20 local and international awards for his music and videos and his hits Taxman, Prisoner, The Way It Is, Victims, Trinity and many others will be remembered by people all over the world.
Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan described the violent death of Mr Dube as not only a family tragedy but a monumental loss for the nation and the music loving people of the world.
"We in the Ministry of Arts and Culture are saddened and stunned at the manner of his death. It marks a sad day in the history of our country," said Mr Jordan.
He said that Mr Dube was not just a global ambassador for South African musical talent, music and heritage but also a world-renowned African composer, singer, band leader, cultural activist, visionary and performer.
"We hope and pray that his family, friends, relatives and fans throughout the world will have the strength to let his spirit rest in peace," he said.
"But, above all, we wish to express our heartfelt thanks for his life. He was one of the most important and relevant reggae voices to come out of this country in the 20th Century."
The minister said that Mr Dube's death was made more painful because it happened at a time when government has renewed the pledge to forge a partnership with people, communities and their institutions to fight crime.
"We state it categorically that crime is everybody's problem in this country. Of course, as Government we are not just concerned by its prevalence but doing something to address it," he said.
"Thus we condemn this senseless and violent killing of an artist who nourished our souls as a nation, articulated the experience and aspirations of the people and used his talent to give us our identity, musical heritage and culture."
Mr Jordan said that for the last 30 years, Mr Dube had been single-mindedly focused on being a cultural activist and musical visionary who used reggae as an instrument to highlight the plight of the oppressed and call for transformation.
In the 1980s, he was inspired by legendary Bob Marley and Peter Tosh to use his unique voice as a tool to boost self-love and the assertion of African self-determination, identity and heritage.
Although his musical background was rooted in mbaqanga, Mr Dube was open-minded and receptive to global influence. In fact, it was the release and success of his albums "Save the Children" (1984) and "Slave," (1987) "Together as One," (1988) and "Prisoner," (1989) that marked a turning point in his musical career.
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"Few will dispute that he was, indeed, an epitome of a true African artist," said Mr Jordan.
"We shall all remember Lucky Dube as a man who took his life into his own hands, fulfilled his purpose on earth and contributed much to the happiness and joy of happiness in this country and the world," he said.
"We are all poorer because he was an artist who was committed to nurturing a true African identity, building a uniting spirit of a new nation in a new world."
LIVICATED TO LUCKY DUBE
HE’S GONE
He dreamed of success He then prayed everyday He ran to reach the goal But dashed his foot against the stone He worked diligently Yet met no dedication He planted good seeds Yet no rain to fertilize He devoted to serving his society Yet confronted negative response
He was a mobile college Enlightening his people That seemed impossible To find in those dark days Having a sophisticated mind He was the cornerstone to the nation Educated fools then buried his dreams Now alone in exile Paving his way Unable to be found on our... [Read Full Text]
I was honored to have known Lucky Dube in the late 80's and early 90's, when he and his band unselfishly invited me to be their friends. We shared some very memorable times together. I was always amazed at Lucky's humility and kindness toward me, a white American, whom he treated as his brother and whom he extended his personal invitations to many of his shows throughout the Midwest and West, and I always took him up on it. Thanks for the music Lucky, thanks for the friendship and thanks for the memories. Russ Schenewerk, Branson, Missouri... [Read Full Text]
I was astonished the other day when I was flying from Colombia to Orlando, Fla and listened for about 7 times Lucky Dubes' "The way it is" and was shocked when I arrived to my house and found out my wife told me he was killed last year!! Where was I? I got to know his music thanks to Worldlink TV, who played " The way it is' several times. Being from the Caribbean (Puerto Rico), I am not strange to caribbean music, which included Bob marley , Lucky and Peter Tosh, amongst others. I was shock the way... [Read Full Text]
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