28 July 2004

We as South Africans mourn the sad passing away of Sipho Gumede. Our sincerest condolences to the family of Sipho Gumede and to the music fraternity. Sipho Gumede’s musical maturity closely followed the social and political genesis of South Africa’s development into a democracy.

He was born in Cator Manor, Durban, where he adopted the pennywhistle and the guitar. It is said that the late great jazz guitarist, Cyril Magubane, introduced him to the music of Wes Montgomery which struck a chord as Gumede decided to incorporate the language of jazz, with traditional African music to form the rich vocabulary he become admired for.

In the 1970s, Gumede joined the musicians at Dorkay House in Johannesburg where he interacted with Dennis Mpale, Cocky Tlhotlhalemaje, Dick Khoza and others. There is no great musician or composer that Gumede did not work with - from Gibson Kente to Jabu Nkosi, Barney Rachabane, Duke Makasi, Enoch Motlelane, Kippie Moeketsi and Abudullah Ibrahim.

It is not enough to measure the man’s music by looking at the stature of his collaborators alone. The seminal band, Sakhile, of which he was a founder member, became a vehicle for articulating and asserting a South African black identity when it was sorely needed in the 1970s. Sakhile’s songs embraced the wider world of jazz. Sakhile were one of the bands which made it acceptable to appreciate modern African music. The back catalogue of the band Sakhile is a rich heritage that is, perhaps not fully appreciated by contemporary listeners of jazz. I believe that these recordings will stand up as one of the peaks in the history of the development of South African music.

Along with Caiphus Semenya, Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa and Letta Mbulu, Gumede produced a musical show, “Buwa” which told the story of South African music in the context of South African history. The show was yet another example, where South Africans reached out to the rest of the African continent and Europe. The world has consistently reciprocated with warmth by supporting the cause against the apartheid regime and in a democratic era, continuing to enjoy the music enormously. Over the years, Gumede celebrated South African culture by sharing his music in the world’s capitals. He toured extensively throughout his career, along the way meeting and playing with Harry Belafonte and Quincy Jones, just to name two luminaries and supporters of human rights. With the cream of South African talent, Gumede recorded a number of award winning albums and compact discs. His output includes “Faces and Places,” “Down Freedom Avenue,” “Ubuntu - Humanity” and “Blues for my Mother”.

We as government were shocked to hear the news of his untimely passing. South Africa has lost a great and talented bassist. It is a tremendous loss to the world. May his legacy of experimental sounds influence a new generation of jazz musicians. He will be sorely missed. Hamba kahle Sipho Gumede.

For more information please phone Andile Xaba: 082 377 6627; Premi Appalraju 082 375 2939, or Mack Lewele 082 450 5076

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