..............28..............
which drew critical acclaim and played to packed houses.
That same year, President Zuma honoured him with the highest order in South Africa: The Order of Ikhamanga. 2011 saw Masekela receive a Lifetime Achievement award at the WOMEX World Music Expo in Copenhagen, the first of many. Numerous universities, including the University of York and the University of the Witwatersrand have awarded him honorary doctorates. The US Virgin Islands proclaimed ‘Hugh Masekela Day’ in March 2011, not long after Hugh joined U2 on stage during the Johannesburg leg of their 360 World Tour. U2 frontman Bono described meeting and playing with Hugh as one of the highlights of his career.
Never one to slow down,in 2012, Bra Hugh toured Europe with Paul Simon on the Graceland 25th Anniversary Tour. opening his own studio and record label, House of Masekela the same year, his final album, No Borders, picked up a SAMA for Best Adult Contemporary in 2017.
Continuing a busy international tour schedule, Hugh used his global reach to spread the word about heritage restoration in Africa – a topic that remained very close to his heart. He founded the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation in 2015 to continue this work for generations to come.
“My biggest obsession is to show Africans and the world who the people of Africa really are,”
Masekela confided – It was this commitment to his home continent that propelled him forward since he first began playing the trumpet.
A Grammy award winner for “Best Contemporary Pop Performance-Instrumental” as far back as 1968, Masekela is still honoured today as one of South Africa’s most prominent and talented musicians.
He passed away on 23 January 2018 after a battle with prostate cancer.
Flashmag February 2018 www.flashmag.net