Tribute to Hugh Masekela from Scratch Studios - Ghana

Genre : Communiqués
Principal country concerned : Column : Music
Release/publication date : 2018
Published on : 26/01/2018
Source : www.artsghana.org

The CEO Mr. Kofi Amoakohene, Associate Director Paa. Kwesi Holdbrook-Smith, Director Teddy Osei of Scratch Studios and Universal Entertainment Ltd express our deepest condolences to the family, friends, the music fraternity and the public at large on the passing of our friend, colleague and father and co-Director, Hugh Ramapolo Masekela.
 
Hugh Masekela was a great fountain of wisdom and experience. In his capacity as a Director of Scratch Studios and a Patron of the African DreamChild Foundation and the AfroJazz Festival, he brought his great intellect to bear on the affairs of these organizations and was always ready to help with the grooming of talent both young and old. His encouragement of talent like Steve Bedi, Becca and Ben Brako is well known. Today a Great African and musician made his Ascension
 
 A mighty tree has fallen. Hugh Masekela, South African born Jazz Trumpeter and Flugelhorn player passed onto the realms of our Ancestors. Bra Hugh as we affectionately called him, belonged as much to South Africa as he did Ghana. Going into exile from his homeland it was Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah's government that gave him and other Liberation exiles Ghanaian passports of convenience.
 
It was Ghana that he found love after his divorce from Miriam Makeba. He had one issue with Miss Akuffo Addo and was later married to Elinam Coffie. It was in Ghana that he found one of his most iconic groups, Hedzolleh Sounds.
 
The poignant sound of Bra Hugh's trumpet had a distinctive South African sound yet it had universal resonance. As a leading voice of the Anti-Apartheid movement, he tread the board of concert halls across the world carrying the message of the suffering of his people.
 
Bra Hugh was relentless in this pursuit and dedicated his life to the struggle "to see him (Nelson Mandela) walking down the streets of Soweto". Post-Apartheid Bra Hugh continued to serve his people by establishing a number of programs including a drug rehabilitation centre for Musician addicts.
 
Our very own Kiki Gyan of blessed memory was a beneficiary. A few years ago, Bra Hugh was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had been undergoing treatment for it but, however, sounded a warning last year for us to pray for him.
 
Alas it was not to be and this morning made his Ascension Bra Hugh we of the Ghana music fraternity salute you as a Great African not only in the field of music but as hero of the African people to find honor, respect and dignity
 
Bra Hugh we appreciate your great sacrifice and energies you expended to make Africa beautiful.
 
Bra Hugh May Your Journey to Eternity be Peaceful
 
Damirifa du3
Damirifa du3
Damirifa du3
 
 

Partners

  • Arterial network
  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)
  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
  • FURTHER ARTS
  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
  • Rwanda : Positive Production
  • Togo : Kadam Kadam
  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
  • Afrilivres

With the support of