I am obsessed with inspiring African heritage values – Hugh Rampolo Masekela
One of Africa’s biggest music exports and the world’s most celebrated jazz artistes, ace trumpeter, and musical legend, Hugh Masekela claims he is obsessed with the idea of instilling African heritage in the younger generation.
The South African superstar has arrived in Ghana with his band for a double entertainment package this weekend from November 18-19 as he host a red carpet premiere of his movie, ‘Soil’ at the Silverbird cinemas and a music fiesta.
He will stage a big concert at the Banquet Hall of the State House alongside some renowned Ghanaian artistes such as King of Burger highlife, George Darko, highlife veteran Pat Thomas, and the sultry songstress Efya, will also be on hand to light up the evening.
He told Yaw Sakyi on The Rundown show in exclusive interview on Wednesday night that he’s is keen to continue with projecting African values and insists failure to do so will be detrimental to the future of the younger generation.
“We shouldn’t forget what our heritage stands for and continue to let our young generation know where they come from. It’s imperative otherwise we lose track of our past and that will be unfortunate” Masekela said
“I can’t continue to play forever but my dream and obsession is to inspire the heritage of the young generation and also ensure that we instill in them our proper cultural heritage”
“My wife comes from Ghana and I look forward to staying here sometimes and do some more work in this great country. I have already done some collaboration with Pat Thomas in the past and I’m happy to say we’ll doing some our past tunes”
Touching on the event at the Banquet Hall, he said: “The ladies who like to wear high heels should come with short one. Because they will dance to the extent that it might break.”
“I promise the audience of great time with some of the finest in the country. I am here with my own band for the first time and I believe patrons will be excited. I wouldn’t single out any of my over 50 albums as the best because it’s the audience who determines that”
Before the event on November 19, Masekela will host a red carpet premiere of his movie, “Soil”, at the Silverbird cinemas. The movie stars local actors including Ken Fiati, Solomon Sampa, Asuman Davis and Baaba Akude, to name a few.
It tells the story of a son of a chief, who after being banished from his village, is asked to return as his dying father’s last wish. However, complications arise upon his return.
The movie delivers a true on-screen African experience. ‘SOIL’ was produced by Elinam Masekela, was written and directed by, Adam Wilkinson. It boasts of a colourful soundtrack done by Hugh and Ghanaian Highlife icon, Pat Thomas.
Christened Hugh Ramapolo Masekela, the African jazz prodigy has built a music career spanning fifty-eight years, and has a large number of albums to his credit. He was part of the first African jazz group with a music album and has performed to record-breaking audiences across the world.
His well-known hits include “Grazin’ in the Grass” which sold four million copies; “In the Market Place”; and his famous hit single “Bring Him Back Home”, which became an anthem for the movement to free Nelson Mandela.
One of Masekela’s earliest memories is of winding up the household gramophone for his parents; by the age of 10, he was familiar with most of the 78s issued by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Cab Calloway and Glenn Miller.
Other early influences were the traditional music of the Swazis, Zulus, Sutus and Shangaan, all of which he heard at weekend musical gatherings in the township and neighbouring countryside. A difficult and rebellious schoolboy, Masekela was frequently given to playing truant. On one such occasion, he saw Kirk Douglas in the Bix Beiderbecke biopic Young Man With A Horn – and decided there and then that he wanted to become a trumpeter and band leader when he grew up.
His teacher, the anti-apartheid activist and Anglican priest Trevor Huddlestone, welcomed this enthusiasm and gave Masekela his first trumpet, a battered old instrument owned by a local band leader. A year later, in 1955, Huddlestone was expelled from South Africa.
In New York, he met Louis Armstrong, and enthused to him about Masekela’s talents and persuaded Armstrong to send a trumpet over to Johannesburg for the boy.
In 1983, he made his first live appearance in London for over 20 years, at the African Sounds For Mandela concert at Alexandra Palace. In 1986, Masekela severed his links with Jive and returned to the USA, where he signed with Warner Brothers Records, releasing the album Tomorrow, and joining labelmate Paul Simon’s Graceland world tour.
In 1989, he co-wrote the music for the Broadway show Sarafina!, set in a Soweto school during a state of emergency, and released the album Up Township.
During the 90s he returned to a more traditional style. He celebrated his 60th birthday in 1999 with a new album that revisited some old numbers.
