19 October 2007

The violent death of Lucky Dube is not only a family tragedy but a monumental loss for the nation and for music lovers the world over.

We in the Ministry of Arts & Culture are saddened and stunned at the manner of his death. It marks a sad day in the history of our country.

Lucky Dube was not just a global ambassador for South African musical talent, music and heritage. He was world-renowned African composer, singer, band leader, cultural activist, visionary and performer.

We hope and pray that his family, friends, relatives and fans throughout the world will have the strength to let his spirit rest in peace.

But, above all, we wish to express our heartfelt thanks for his life. He was one of the most important and relevant reggae voices to come out of this country in the 20th Century.

What makes his death more painful is that it happens at a time when Government has renewed its pledge to forge a partnership with people, communities and their institutions to fight crime. Crime is a South African problem and everyone of us in this country must play our role in fighting it.

We condemn this senseless and violent killing of an artist who nourished our souls as a nation, articulated the experience and aspirations of the people and used his talent to enrich our identity, musical heritage and culture.

The killers of Lucky Dube might have ended his life with a couple of bullets. But they have failed to kill his spirit. He will live on through his music in our memory and heritage. We will always listen to his eternal voice through his music.

For the last 30 years, Lucky Dube has been single-mindedly focused in being a cultural activist and musical visionary who used reggae as an instrument to highlight the plight of the oppressed and call for transformation.

In the 1980s, he was inspired by legendary Bob Marley and Peter Tosh to use his unique voice as a tool to boost self-love and the assertion of African self-determination, identity and heritage.

Although his musical background was rooted in mbaqanga, Lucky Dube was open-minded and receptive to global influences. The release and success of his albums “Save the Children” (1984) and “Slave,” (1987) “Together as One,” (1988) and “Prisoner,” (1989) marked a turning point in his musical career.

He was internationally recognized as a highly politicized, conscious and committed artist who became a living repository of the indigenous language, music, creative and intellectual heritage of African people.

Few will dispute that he was, indeed, the epitome of a true African artist

He remains an example of the triumph of the human spirit over man-made adversity. We shall all remember Lucky Dube as a man who took his life into his own hands, fulfilled his purpose on earth and contributed much to the happiness and joy of happiness in this country and the world.

We are all poorer because he was an artist who was committed to nurturing a true African identity, building a uniting spirit of a new nation in a new world.

Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

May his soul rest in peace!

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For further information call Sandile Memela, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Arts & Culture or Premi Appalraju, Media Liaison Officer at 082 903 6778.

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