10 June 2008

He was 73 when he died peacefully at his KwaMashu home.

In fact, he was widely regarded as amongst the more powerful and influential men in the arts.

His life was long – in his youth he started out working under the mentorship of renowned liberal writer Alan Paton, who introduced him to the professional stage when he made his debut in Mkhumbane.

But he went on to become the cornerstone of cultural self-determination when he founded and launched Amajika at his home in KwaMashu. It was here that he nurtured and shaped the talent of young people who were destined to play a leading role in the arts, especially theatre and music.

Nokwe was not satisfied with other people telling the story of African people. As an artist who was intuitively connected to the township experience, he felt compelled to project the black experience in a positive way that did not portray them as victims.

It was for this reason that in 2005, he rewrote Paton's work as Uvukile Umkhumbane which highlighted and celebrated the resilience and determination of African people to make the best of what life had to offer.

Nokwe seemed to understand that it was not circumstances that made the person because he never allowed the youth under his mentorship – including Bheki Mseleku, Mbongeni Ngema and Leleti Khumalo, among others – to believe that they were destined to be trapped in township poverty, helplessness and a bleak future.

Instead, he encouraged them to open their eyes and minds to possibilities or to use the arts not only to take their rightful place in the world but to tell the African story in the best way that they know it.

Of course, this has unleashed a powerful creative force among many youths in the townships, especially in KwaMashu who continue to visit his home to this day as the centre of excellence for the creative arts.

Nokwe was born on April 1 1935 in Port St John and grew up in Cato Manor which African people have always called Umkhumbane.

In his younger days, he joined the municipal brass band where he soon emerged as a bandleader. After learning and observing, he opted out to found and launch his own group, The Rockets which took off in a big to become a much sought after band.

Its infectious and danceable music saw it become a major attraction in the Durban social scene for playing Elvis Pressley cover versions and hits.

He was too proud to continue in this fashion and, in 1963, he redirected his creative energies to swing and jazz music which had strong African-American roots and consciousness.

He was soon a member and lead singer in big bands like Three Aces, the Black Cowboys and Thomas Ndaba's Swingsters Band.

But Nokwe's chief contribution to the development of African arts and culture was gaining it access to international audiences. In the 1970s he was responsible for the international break of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Juluka and Umabatha.

At the height of student upheavals in 1977, Nokwe rechanneled the energy of the youth to the creative arts. This culminated in a whirlwind run of Welcome Msomi's junior version of Umabatha enjoying a roaring success in Scotland and London .

Though this was hard times in politics, in 1981 Nokwe had the creative imagination to arrange an international tour to Germany for Ladysmith Black Mambazo. This opened up opportunities for the group to work on a collaboration with Paul Simon which culminated in the release of Graceland in 1986.

As if that was not enough, Nokwe also opened up international doors for Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu who performed as Juluka. They, too, performed in Germany which saw them not only take indigenous South African musical sounds to greater heights but become house hold name.

Though Nokwe was an effective strategist and manager who operated behind the scenes, he had a wide appeal as an actor and starred in Shaka Zulu (1986) and Cry, the Beloved Country (1995.)

However, he became a house hold name for his memorable performances in the TV series, Ifa La kwaMthethwa.

At the time of his death, Nokwe had been honoured with the Living Legend Award by the eThekwini Municipality for his outstanding contribution to the arts.

Indeed, he was a cornerstone to the cultural development of the country, especially the youth. We are truly blessed to have had Nokwe live and work among us to use the arts to build a nation builder and foster a spirit of self reliance and self determination among the youth.

We are deeply saddened by his passing and convey sincerest condolences to his wife, children and family.

For further information, call Sandile Memela
Spokesperson for the Ministry
Cell: 082 800 3750

or
Premi Appalraju
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 903 6778

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