Hugh Masakela, legendary musician dies

South African jazz legendary musician Hugh Masekela, has passed on at age 78.

A statement from his family said Masekela died from protracted prostate cancer.

“After a protracted and courageous battle with prostate cancer, he passed peacefully in Johannesburg, South Africa, surrounded by his family,” the statement added.

The family said his memorial burial services will be announced in due course.

“We will, in due course, release details of memorial and burial services,” he added.

In October, he canceled a scheduled performance at the Hugh Masekela Heritage Festival in Rockville, Soweto, to dedicate himself to battling the disease, and called on all men to go for regular cancer check-ups.

Hugh Ramopolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer. He is considered the "father of South African jazz." Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for writing well-known anti-apartheid songs such as "Soweto Blues" and "Bring Him Back Home"

Masekela was involved in several social initiatives and served as a director on the board of the Lunchbox Fund, a non-profit organization that provides a daily meal to students of township schools in Soweto.

Tributes are flooding in from all over the world as we await the plans from the family for his burial service. 

President of Kenya
(@PresidentKE)

The World has today lost a Legend. Hugh Masekela, gave us many songs, a reason to dance to Jazz, & combined that with a trumpet, not only to connect us to entertainment, but also to give South Africa, a liberating & powerful voice against Apartheid. We celebrate him 

Angelique Kidjo
(@angeliquekidjo)

Today I lost a friend. @hughmasekela was a pioneer. He was one of the first musicians to spread African Music all over the world. But most of all, he was a funny, generous and beautiful soul

Min. Nathi Mthethwa
(@NathiMthethwaSA)

A baobab tree has fallen, the nation has lost a one of a kind musician with the passing of Jazz legend bra Hugh Masekela. We can safely say bra Hugh was one of the great architects of Afro-Jazz and he uplifted the soul of our nation through his timeless music. #RIPBraHughMasekela pic.twitter.com/JVy47GA…