South African jazz giant Jonas Gwangwa dies at 83 | South African News

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President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead the tribute to the Oscar-nominated legendary musician.

Jonas Gwangwa, a South African musician and anti-apartheid figure, has died at the age of 83.

President Cyril Ramaphosa led Saturday ‘s homage to a Oscar – nominated trombonist and composer for the theme song of the 1987 film Cry Freedom.

“The giant of our revolutionary cultural movement and our democratic creative industries has been called to rest,” Ramaphosa said.

“The trumpet that thrived with boldness and bravery, and that warmed our hearts with a melodious melody has lost its life force,” he said.

There was no immediate information on how or where Gwangwa died.

He died on the third anniversary of the death of Hugh Masekela’s “father of South African jazz” and the second anniversary of the death of Zimbabwean music legend Oliver Mtukudzi.

January 23 had been “the day the music died,” South Africa and other media reported.

Gwangwa was born in October 1937 in Soweto and continued her career over 40 years.

“Audience in Sophiat City was delighted that it was illegal for black people to gather and imprison South African musicians just for working on their craft,” a statement said. ‘leadership.

He won the Ikhamanga Order, the highest national award in South Africa awarded for achievements in arts and culture, in 2010.

The award recognized his work as a composer, arranger and musical director at Amandla Cultural Ensemble, a cultural group created by activists from the African National Congress in the 1970s.

As news of Gwangwa’s departure broke, many took to social media to pay homage to the famous musician.

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