Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival celebrates jazz legend’s life

Image: Instagram The 5th installment of the Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival – a first since his death on January 23, 2018 - will be held at the historical Soweto Theatre on Saturday, 9 November.

The Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival is a reflection of Jazz legend's eclectic musical appetite and output, through the lens of South Africa’s own abundant and diverse musical offerings.

The festival will be headlined by the late musician’s friend Thandiswa Mazwai and she is expected that she would pay a tribute to the late music icon.

Mazwai will play a selection from his lesser-known repertoire and will be playing alongside the Hugh Masekela band.

In addition, the festival will feature Sjava, Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, Madala Kunene, Thabang Tabane, Bombshelter Beast, Sun Xa Experiment, Luma and the BaTswana dance ensemble New Moon.

Mazwai said her performance at the festival will be a bittersweet moment as she, “obviously love Bra Hugh’s music, but I’m very sad that he is no longer with us.

“I am afraid I might cry on stage. I have been a huge fan of Hughey since I was 14. My fist performance with him was with my high school choir. Our friendship was one of the most important relationships of my life, nothing could prepare me for doing Hughey's music without him, so this is a very special show for me.”

Image: Instagram

described the festival as a

significant and important juncture in the life of the festival.

Head of Brand and Communications at Assupol, Velmah Nzembela said, “The Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival is a worthy celebration of the legacy of the iconic African giant, Bra Hugh. The Boy Is Still Doing It and Grazing!” - Sipho ‘Hostix’ Mabuse

“Assupol has been serving the hard-working people of South Africa with financial products and services, for 106 years. As a proudly South African company with a rich heritage of serving those who serve, we are pleased to support the promotion of heritage, through music and culture at the 80th birthday edition of the Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival.”

Festival organiser Mabusha Masekela adds that, “this year’s centrepiece is a specially curated presentation of Hugh’s 6 decade-long musical output featuring the unique talents of Thandiswa Mazwai and Bra Hugh’s last touring band. With a nod to the obvious impossibility of this proposition, the aim is to get a taste of Hugh’s variety, while still anchored in his roots. The combination promises to be inspirational."

Drummer in the Hugh Masekela band, Leeroy Sauls, notes how important this festival is in keeping Bra Hugh’s legacy alive: “I remember us walking to a soundcheck at Carnegie Hall in New York and him telling me ‘If we don’t preserve our heritage and keep our traditions and culture alive, they will say we were once called African!' Unity in diversity is what he believed in. He was a man of integrity and a firm believer in Ubuntu, we miss you Dr Hugh!”