African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee member, Baleka Mbete has described the late jazz legend, Jonas Gwangwa, as a person who fought for the unity of different races through music.
Mbete told a virtual memorial service held by the ANC to honour the cultural activist that young and old could learn from Gwangwa on how to manage differences.
Jazz luminaries, Steve Dyer, Yvonne Chakaka, Sipho Hotstix Mabuse and Caiphus Semenya also paid tribute to Gwangwa, who passed away at the age of 83 last month.
Mbete says Gwangwa always wanted to fix things.
“He left us all with a very loud and clear message to apply under various situations in our personal lives: make time to fix things between you and your partner, you and the other person, in the family, in the community, at work, everywhere. We all know our country has many things that are broken. Jonas Gwangwa says we should make time to fix them.”
ANC NEC member Baleka Mbethe delivers eulogy at Jonas Gwangwa’s memorial service:
His role in the struggle for liberation through the African National Congress’ Amandla Cultural Ensemble was also recognised.
“I was brought up the idea that perhaps ANC ought to form a cultural group that would form cultural mobilization… who do we get to make it professional? And I said we can try Jonas he was in with us,” says ANC veteran Lindiwe Mabuza.
Fellow musicians have also paid tribute to the legendary musician. “That trombone, when ntate Jonas held it and played it, you just felt the love. You felt the music, you felt the message. I, as a South African, want to say thank you for opening the doors for us,” says Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
Caiphus Semenya says Gwangwa was like a family member to him.
“To say to you that Jonas was a very dear friend and a great colleague in music, it would be a gross understatement. The truth is, Jonas was family. He was more of a brother than a friend in music.”
His son Mojalefa says Gwangwa guided young musicians.
“He had a lot of youngsters that he did not only treat as musicians but also as his children. He would sit down and guide them, with us as a family. We appreciated that we got that from him and my mum. They taught us humility and love and how to share them with the world.”
Below are some of his hit songs that have kept the world enthralled over the years:
- Flowers Of The Nation
- Batsumi
- Shebeen
- Morwa
- Kgomo
