Lucky Dube dies
Irene Madonko pays tribute to South African reggae star Lucky Dube who was tragically killed on 18 October 2007.
South African reggae grandmaster Lucky Dube was tragically shot dead in Johannesburg on 18 October 2007. A police spokeswoman said the artist was dropping his son off in the suburb of Rosettenville when he was attacked by armed robbers. His son was already out of the car when he saw what happened, and then ran for help.
Dube spent many years putting African reggae music on the world map. When trying to launch into reggae he faced numerous challenges, especially during apartheid in South Africa. Also, record companies were not interested in reggae music as it did not sell as well as R’n’B or hip-hop.
South African Sunday Times arts editor Charles Molele recalls meeting Lucky for the first time in 1997: “I think he was a highly talented musician. He could sing and he could also play backing instruments. He was multi-talented. When he’d play at stadiums more than 40,000 people would come watch him, and that’s a big thing.”
Molele said that most of the criticism against him was that he commercialised reggae. According to Molele, on Friday a DJ from local radio station Khaya FM confessed they never played his music on their shows.
When I spoke to Lucky in May 2007 about the challenges reggae artists face, he made it clear that African reggae musicians were not always well-received, even in Africa.
He said, “One of the things that makes it hard for them [African reggae musicians] is that people, even Africans, still believe that good reggae can only come from Jamaica. If you had to put up two posters advertising a reggae show: the first poster announcing that two African reggae artists, for example Alpha Blondy and me, will be performing live together; and then put up another poster of an unknown Jamaican reggae singer performing live, people will flock to the Jamaican one. So we still have to work hard!”
Read the full interview here .
Nevertheless, Dube helped other musicians find their feet. One of the groups that Lucky helped get a break through was kwaito outfit Bongo Maffin.
“On our first US tour, we were the opening act for Lucky,” recalls Bongo Maffin lead vocalist, Thandiswa Mazwai, “We played at some festivals together. We were on the reggae circuit, and he was the door we could get through. My first impression of him was that he was a simple man who loved music. He was very professional.” Mazwai continues: “It was in the States that we realised how big he was. And even in Jamaica, when people heard we were from South Africa they would say: Nelson Mandela, Lucky Dube.”
Dube began his career by singing mbaqanga music in South Africa, and together with the Super Soul band, recorded an album ‘Kudala Ngikuncenga’ as early as 1982. He recorded a few other mbaqanga albums before moving into reggae.
His early reggae albums include ‘Think about the Children’. Then he began doling out the hits: his albums ‘Slave’, ‘Prisoner’ and ‘Together As One’ saw him catapult to recognition firstly regionally and then globally. He recorded 21 albums. His last one, ‘Respect’, was released in April 2007.
In his death Dube has been highly acknowledged by many including the South African Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr. Pallo Jordan, who said: “The violent death of Lucky Dube is not only a family tragedy but a monumental loss for the nation and for music lovers the world over.”
Sadly, Dube died near to those whom he loved most. His booking agent, Dave Jacobs, said: “The thing closest to Lucky’s heart was his family. He adored his children.”
He is survived by his new wife Zanele and his seven children Bongi, Nonkululeko, Thokozani, Laura, Siyanda, Philani and his three-month old baby Melokuhle.
Jacobs met him ten years ago in Washington DC: “I was a huge fan of Lucky’s before I had the opportunity of working for him. Off stage he was something on the shy side. He was very genuine and sincere, a very fair person.” Jacobs said, after his family, Lucky also treasured his music and the way it inspired people: “He was really touched by the way his music touched others.”
Lucky Dube overcame much hostility to get African reggae music on the world map. May his soul at last rest in peace.
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