This story was first published byThe Conversation.
Music is not a zero sum game with only one “best”. But if you seek to name one musician whose life embodies the South African people’s struggle for a national culture, it must be trombonist, composer and cultural activist Jonas Mosa Gwangwa, who was born on 19 October 1937 in Orlando East, Johannesburg, and died on 23 January 2021 in Johannesburg aged 83.
Through 65 years on stage, Gwangwa’s playing contributed to every genre of South African jazz. Overseas, he was hailed as player, producer and composer. Yet he chose to step away from mainstream success for 10 years, leading the Amandla Cultural Ensemble of the African National Congress (ANC) to win hearts for the anti-apartheid struggle everywhere and present a vision of what post-apartheid national culture could be.
Jonas Gwangwa: The musician who embodied South Africa’s struggle for a national culture
The trombonist, composer and cultural activist never wished to be ‘the state composer’ but remained political until the end. Jonas Gwangwa at the Cape Town Jazz Festival in April 2017. | Jonas Gwangwa/Twitter
Music is not a zero-sum game with only one “best”. But if you seek to name one musician whose life embodies the South African people’s struggle for a national culture, it must be trombonist, composer and cultural activist Jonas Mosa Gwangwa, who was born on October 19, 1937, in Orlando East, Johannesburg, and died on January 23 in Johannesburg aged 83.
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Jonas Gwangwa, trombonist and anti-apartheid activist, dies at 83
South African trombonist, vocalist and composer Jonas Gwangwa was 83.
by Giovanni Russonello
(NYT NEWS SERVICE)
.- Jonas Gwangwa, a preeminent South African trombonist, vocalist and composer who became a leading artistic ambassador for the anti-apartheid resistance, died Sunday. He was 83.
The office of President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the death in a statement, but did not say where he died or what the cause was. Gwangwa had been in poor health for some time.
Calling him a giant of our revolutionary cultural movement, Ramaphosa wrote, Jonas Gwangwa ascends to our great orchestra of musical ancestors, whose creative genius and dedication to the freedom of all South Africans inspired millions in our country and mobilized the international community against the apartheid system.
Jazz musician who rivaled Hugh Masekela dies
Friday January 29 2021
By BILL ODIDI
Summary
Gwangwa s most internationally celebrated work was the original film score for the 1990 Academy Award-winning movie “Cry Freedom” starring Hollywood star Denzel Washington in the role of the slain South African freedom fighter Steve Biko.
That work earned Gwangwa two Oscar nominations in 1988, Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “Cry Freedom”.
The soundtrack was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Song written for a Motion Picture or Television.
His death may have passed quietly outside South Africa last week, but musician Jonas Gwangwa was one of the most influential musicians that the continent has produced in the course of a career spanning more than 60 years.