Download Many Years By Lucky Dube
Divina Hujer
QUIST-ARCTON: That it shouldn't have happened, that Lucky Dube had another 50 years left in him. It really has had an impact, not just in Africa, but across the globe because, of course, Lucky Dube performed and toured internationally. We're told from his Web site that his last series of concerts was in the United States. So I think this has stunned many, many people, and as I say, has shone the spotlight again on South Africa and its problem of high crime.
Sadly, on October 18, 2007, at the age of 43, Lucky Dube was murdered in Rosettenville, South Africa.(africamusic) Many paid tribute to lucky and many were saddened by his passing. Lucky Dube was a phenomenal Musician and inspiration to many and he still continues to become one. His music is streamed all over the world and will live on to be considered a reggae legend from Africa.
The statement in the song that, "They were told many years ago that their country is free. But they didn't understand, that it's not real," presupposes that not only is the South African narrative of freedom questionable, but it also misleads people to view South Africa as a country that has achieved complete freedom. If justice and equality define freedom, one cannot rate South Africa as a state that has achieved freedom. Also, if Klein's concept of "Democracy Born in Chains: South Africa's Constricted Freedom"10 is credible, as I am inclined to believe it is, South African should not be viewed as a free country in a complete sense. In fact, the conspicuous presence of socioeconomic injustice points to the fact that South Africa's so-called freedom is incomplete.
So what do we make of Edozien's argument? It could imply that the South African middle class, which comprises mostly black people, will be perpetually trapped in debt. The cars and the houses that many middle-class workers possess belong to the banks, and not to them. Thus they are likely to continue to pay bonds or home loans that take many years to settle. Edozien's views also explain why the poor, when trying to open a business, find it difficult to receive loans from the bank - they have no credit record. In an open letter to President Zuma, Edozien rightly concludes that "South Africa will never ever grow itself out of poverty under the current financial regime. It is not possible".40 From Edozien's argument, and given the continuing capitalist and imperialist tendency of the white oligarchs, the control of the Reserve Bank by a private entity and the magnitude of the debt of the nation - particulary the middle class - South Africa indeed appears to be a nation in chains.
He was dropping his teenage son and daughter off in a Johannesburg suburb when he was attacked by car thieves.Local radio stations have been flooded with tearful callers expressing outrage at the murder and renewing demands that the authorities act to curtail crime.South Africa's leader paid tribute to him and called on people to "confront this terrible scourge of crime".Alongside Bob Marley, Lucky Dube was thought of as one of the great reggae artists - singing about social problems. He was also one of the apartheid regime's most outspoken critics. 'Freedom fighter'Correspondents say the killing of the 43-year-old singer has shocked South Africans who are already accustomed to one of the highest murder rates in the world. HAVE YOUR SAY He will be missed as a great musician and for his love for the children and the suffering people in Africa Abitekaniza Denis, Kampala, Uganda
Send us your comments Your tributes Crime fears after shooting Music producer TK of TS records and a friend of Dube's told the BBC the killing was tragically ironic."The whole continent has lost a performer, musician, a guy that fought for freedom in his own way, in his own right, was just shot by some guy who wanted to take his car, you know, which is Mickey Mouse really," he said.Opposition parties and the youth wing of the ruling African National Congress party have called on the government to take drastic measures against crime.Callers to radio stations have urged the country's rugby team to show some form of respect when they take to the field in Saturday's World Cup final against England in Paris.President Thabo Mbeki is attending the final and took time to pay tribute to the dreadlocked reggae star before he jetted off to France."It's indeed very very sad that this happens to an outstanding South African, an outstanding musician - world renowned," he said."We shall continue to act together as a people to confront this terrible scourge of crime, which has taken the lives of too many of our people - and does so every day."The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says police are still hunting for three men thought to be behind the attack.Police say Dube's son and daughter were already out of the car when three shots were fired through the car window killing their father on Thursday evening in Rosettenville.Witnesses say the wounded singer tried to drive away, but lost control of his car and hit a tree. "He was declared dead on the scene," Police inspector Lorrain Van Immareck told the BBC. 'Big blow'The BBC has been inundated with thousands of text and email messages paying tribute to the singer. Lucky Dube's Rastas Never Die album was banned under apartheid"I am a 27-year-old black South African girl. I have dreadlocks and I love reggae music so much and I am proud to be who I am, being black and African. I will miss Lucky Dube, you are an inspiration to many of us," Sbongile Diko in Durban wrote.But the tributes have been worldwide - especially from Africa."Lucky filled up stadiums all over the continent. I would say he was far bigger outside South Africa then he was in South Africa," South African music journalist Peter Makurube told the BBC's Network Africa programme.Dube began his career by singing mbaqanga (traditional Zulu) music and recorded his first album with the Super Soul band in 1982. He later moved into reggae, producing Rastas Never Die which was banned by the apartheid government.His albums Slave, Prisoner and Together As One saw him gain first national, and then global, recognition. Three years ago his 1989 anti-apartheid hit Together as One, which calls for world peace and harmony, was voted one of Africa's top 10 songs by BBC readers and listeners.Lucky Dube released his most recent album, Respect, in April.
E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bookmark with:
- Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon