I enjoy many kinds of music, in particular a number of different sounds produced by African artists. At the top of the list of my favorite African musicians are Lucky Dube, Jabu Khanyile, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Yvonne Chaka Chaka amongst many others.

Sadly today it was learned that Lucky Dube was killed in a hijacking in Johannesburg. I have listened to his music (on and off between others) for over 20 years, the last time being over the weekend while driving in the back country when I heard one of his most famous songs “Together as One” (about Apartheid) on SB public radio.

In tribute, a photo of Lucky Dube from his site:
http://www.luckydubemusic.com

A very big tree has fallen, a tree bigger than the oak. A tree whose branches swing with great whistling music all across the world, a tree that stands tall and rubs shoulders with others, a tree that provides perfect shade filled with love and affection, passion and emotions. -Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti

Africa will miss the detribalised Lucky. And the rest of us, who are lucky to still be breathing, we should keep the flag of oneness, resilience and excellence flying, which Lucky Dube represented. Lucky was one of the shining lights in Africa. - Tosin Ajirire

Last year, Jabu Khanyile died of cancer. I had the privilege of seeing him at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in 1997. It was one of those magic moments in life, not only for his music, but for his amazingly entertaining personality.

In memory of the 1997 festival where I heard Jabu Khanyile for the first time, a photo of African musicians at the Festival. After hearing Bayete (Khanyile’s band), I immediately bought 3 Bayete CDs at the festival - and ordered more from the online store, One World Music.

The world of South African music has lost two giants in the last twelve months. I extend heartfelt sympathies to Lucky Dube’s family and teenage son and daughter - it was tragic that they were a witness to the hijacking.

Commentaries on Lucky Dube:

• A Complete Human Being
• Gallo Staff mourn soft-spoken star
• Honouring Lucky Dube
• Tributes in the Sowetan
• BBC
• The Shebeen
• Special Tribute
• World Music Central
• Why Lucky Dube
• The Life and Times of Lucky Dube
• South African reggae star who cracked Motown
• Music and tears flow at memorial service for slain reggae star
• Lucky Dube’s unnecessary death a blow to fans worldwide, writes Dave Segal
• Lucky Dube’s songs will never die

• Lucky Dube Tribute - Respectance

Music videos

• Different Colours
  
• Back to my roots
• Together as One
• War and Crime
• Remember Me
• Usizi (Ndebele: grief, sorrow)
  

War and Crime - Lucky Dube

Every where in the world
People are fighting for freedom
Nobody knows what is right
Nobody knows what is wrong
The black man say it’ s the white man
The white man say it’ s the black man
Indians say it’ s the coloureds
Coloureds say it’ s everyone
Your mother didn’t tell you the truth
Cause my father didn’t tell me the truth
Nobody knows what is wrong
And what is right
How long is this gonna last
Cause we’ ve come so far so fast

When it started, you and I were not there so
Why don’ t we
Bury down apartheid
Fight down war and crime
Racial discrimination
Tribal discrimination

You and I were not there when it started
We don’ t know where it’ s coming from
And where it’ s going
So why don’ t we

I’ m not saying this
Because I’ m a coward
But I’ m thinking of the lives
That we lose every time we fight
Killing innocent people
Women and children yeah
Who doesn’t know about the good
Who doesn’t know about the wars
Your mother didn’ t tell you the truth
Cause my father did not tell me the truth
Yeah

Black man say it’ s the white man
White man say it’ s the black man
Indians say it’ s the coloureds
Coloureds say it’ s everyone

When it started we were not there
We know where we come from
But we don’ t know where we’ re going
So why don’ t we

Bury down apartheid
Fight down war and crime
Racial discrimination
Tribal discrimination