Financial Gazette (Harare)
Stanley Kwenda And Taurai Maduna
24 October 2007
Lucky Dube was a different kind of rastaman. He neither smoked marijuana nor did he drink beer but this did not stop him from feeling irie all the time.
When he was born, his mother thought he would die as she had lost other children at birth but this young one survived and that is how they came to call him Lucky because he was 'lucky' to be alive.
Dube never made it on luck, he worked hard to gain respect in the music industry.
He began his musical career at the age of 18 when he joined his cousin's band known as The Love Brothers, who played Mbaqanga music.
In 1984 Dube recorded his debut reggae album Rastas Never Die under Gallo Music. The album was banned by the apartheid government.
His 1989 album Prisoner established Lucky as a serious reggae artist. The title track of the album questioned the actions of the apartheid regime in South Africa that was bent on building more prisons to accommodate the black prisoners instead of building schools for them because they were seen as trouble makers.
From the same album was the song War and Crime in which he sang, "The white man says it's the black man, the black man says it's the coloureds and the coloureds say it's everyone"
Lucky Dube was the voice of the voiceless. He sang for the people and wanted everyone to live together as one.
It is sad that the very things that he fought against are the very things that brought his demise.
Lucky was killed in front of his teenage daughter and son in a failed hijack in Johannesburg.
His brutal murder poured cold water on many South Africans as they prepared for the rugby world cup final in France.
It also sparked debate about how the South African government was not doing enough about the high levels of violent crime.
Those that knew Lucky described him as a gentleman. He was humble and was a professional. If he had an interview at 9.30am, Lucky would always be ready by 9.20am.
In his song, The way it is, Lucky sang about how people should be good to other people on their way up the social ladder as they were likely to meet them on their way down. Lucky stayed on top of the ladder, as everybody loved the way he handled himself throughout his career.
Lucky was the most brilliant composer that South Africa has ever had, as attested by the lyrical content of songs such as Little Heroes, Crazy World (Dinky), House of Exile, Keep on Knocking, Johnny, Up with Hope (Down with Dope) and Reap What you Sow.
The dreadlocked musician was not only popular in South Africa but all over the African continent and the world.
"Life is not fair. Why did they kill Lucky Dube," asked one of his Zimbabwean fans in a text message.
His 1996 album Serious Reggae Business was a huge success that saw him being presented with the Best Selling African Recording Artist award at the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo.
During his career Dube recorded 21 albums such as Africa Reggae King-2001, Serious Reggae 1996, House of Exile 2002, Slave 1990, Prisoner 1991 and Victims 1993. His last album was Respect recorded in 2006.
Lucky Dube maybe gone but his music will live forever. Wherever he is now, there is no doubt he is feeling irie!
Lucky Philip Dube, born August 3, 1964 died October 18, 2007
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