Renowned Afro-Jazz guitarist and founder of Malombo Jazz Men group, Dr Philip Tabane has died at the age of 84.
The famous Afro-Jazz trio was formed by Tabane on guitar, Julian Bahula on percussion and Abbey Cindi. Later they were joined by Mabi Thobejane on African drums in the early 1960s.
Family spokesperson Sello Galane says the African Jazz maestro passed away early this morning at the Mamelodi local day hospital, east of Pretoria.
Born in 1934 in Riverside Pretoria, his mother taught him to play the drums at a young age.
His musical outlook was influenced by Black Consciousness teachings as well as African spirituality in which he found expression.
It had a unique sound fusing African traditional music with spiritual sounds, chants and incantations.
The group rose to prominence after winning a Jazz competition in Soweto.
Tabane also had a three year stint in the United States. He worked alongside the likes of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Herbie Man, Pharaoh Sanders and Charles Mingus.
In 1998 he was conferred with a doctorate in Philosophy of Music degree.
In that same year he was the recipient of the Best Single at the Annual Sama’s for his single ‘Ke a Bereka.’
The guitarist is widely regarded as having greatly influenced South African Indigenous music.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has conveyed his condolences to the family. Ramaphosa conferred an honorary PhD in Music and Cultural Anthropology on Tabane in 1998 in his capacity as Chancellor of the University of Venda.
Ramaphosa says Tabane’s physical silence leaves a great void but his sounds will live on in the hearts of South Africans.
