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Hugh Masekela
South Africa
Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (1939–2018), widely celebrated as a defining figure in South African jazz, was a trumpeter, composer, and activist whose work carried the spirit of his country.
Born in Witbank, Mpumalanga, he picked up the trumpet at 14, encouraged by anti-apartheid priest Trevor Huddleston.
In the late 1950s, he helped form the Jazz Epistles, the first all-Black South African jazz group to release a recorded project.
After going into exile in 1960, Masekela continued his studies in London and later in New York, where he deepened his connection to jazz and worked alongside figures such as Louis Armstrong. His international breakthrough arrived in 1968 with "Grazing in the Grass," which topped charts in the United States.
His catalog often addressed life under apartheid, with songs like "Stimela" reflecting the experiences of migrant workers.
Following the end of apartheid, he returned home and remained active as a mentor and performer until his passing in 2018.
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