Legendary South African Jazz artiste Hugh Masekela is dead.
This is according to a statement issued by the fallen legend’s family on Tuesday morning.
Hugh aged 78 had succumbed to prostate cancer in Johannesburg.
‘”After a protracted and courageous battle with prostate cancer, he passed peacefully in Johannesburg, South Africa, surrounded by his family,” read part of the statement.
His death has been mourned by several influential figures in South Africa including the South African minister of arts and culture Nathi Mthethwa.
Hugh Ramapholo Masekela was born in 1939 in Witbank in South Africa and began playing musical instruments like the piano as a child.
He started his career as a member of the Jazz epistles which was the first African group to perform a Jazz EP.
He was among the first African artistes to win two Grammy awards and a BBC radio jazz award which he won in 2002.
He once married his fellow Grammy award winner the late Miriam Makeba.
