Johannesburg Mayor Geoff Makhubo says Jonas Gwangwa’s contribution to the struggle against apartheid was immense and could be felt in the instrumental tunes he produced during the oppressive era.
“Ntate Jonas epitomised what it meant to turn every area of life into a site of struggle by using his enormous music talents to tell the story of South Africa’s racism and oppression to the world,” says Mayor Makhubo.
Gwangwa passed away on Saturday at the age of 83.
Friends and colleagues of the legendary jazz musician, trombonist, cultural icon remember him for his passion and dedication to making the world a better place. They say his music reflected the spirit of the times; a hunger for freedom by the disenfranchised and downtrodden.
It, however, also captured their spirit of hope for a better future.
He used his talent to fight apartheid in South Africa and help forge unity.
A book about his life and times is in the works.
“It was written by a scholar who was in New York with Jonas in the Manhattan jazz school music days it’s a big story and a large family, we were in the midst of it but tragically two weeks ago when his wife died and now Jonas has passed away. I suspect this may delay the process even further, with such a huge story to tell we have to get the details right,” says jazz critic and author, Gwen Ansell.
Remembering SA Jazz Legend Jonas Mosa Gwangwa:
The Soweto born musician was an Esteemed Member of the Order of Ikhamanga – with numerous other accolades collected over the years.
“He said for him he loved all the other accolades but his greatest achievement was the decade he dedicated to the Amandla Ensemble. For him the more important reason because the struggle mattered to him, he gave up a successful jazz career just before he joined the Amandla Ensemble….it was an important achievement for him because he was doing it for the people,” says Ansell.
Gwangwa’s passing has been described as a loss to the country.
“We’ve lost an icon in in Jonas Gwangwa. He was someone who was there from the beginning and was part of our struggle in entertainment and was recognised worldwide. We want to bid him farewell and say Tata you have left a big mark in South Africa,” says the City of Joburg MMC for Community Development, Margaret Arnolds.
An ANC delegation will visit the Gwangwa family on Monday.
