Jonas Gwangwa embodied South Africaâs struggle for a national culture Gwen Ansell Jonas Gwangwa embodied South Africaâs struggle for a national culture
Music is not a zero sum game with only one âbestâ. But if you seek to name one musician whose life embodies the South African peopleâs 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, Gwangwaâs 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 ten years, leading the Amandla Cultural Ensemble of the A
26 January 2021, 8:16 PM | The Conversation | @SABCNewsOnline
Image: Daniel Karmann/EPAJazz 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
When South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently sent good wishes to hospitalised trombonist/composer Jonas Gwangwa, it represented far more than a routine official courtesy. Even before he became president, Ramaphosa relished the South African jazz music that spoke for and of the country’s liberation struggle. So, it was no surprise that during the inauguration speech in 2018, he famously invoked a Hugh Masekela song,
Thuma Mina, isiZulu for “send me”.
26 January 2021, 10:38 PM | Lerato Matlala | @SABCNewsOnline
Image: SABC NewsJonas Gwangwa is a renowned trombonist, composer and cultural activist who was born in Orlando East, Soweto.
Tributes continue to pour in for legendary jazz musician Jonas Gwanga, who died on Saturday. With more than 30 years in the music industry, many are honouring the trombonist for his contribution to the struggle for freedom in South Africa.
Gwagwa is amongst some of the best artists to come out of South Africa.
In 2010, he received the Order of Ikhamanga, which was bestowed on him by former President Jacob Zuma.
Named after the South African indigenous flower which grows in the Eastern Cape, the Order of Ikhamanga is awarded to South Africans who have excell