Martin Myers wrote: R.I.P Winston Mankunku a great SA music icon … my thoughts go to his family and great friend Mike Perry.
RIP Winston Mankunku
Martin Myers wrote: R.I.P Winston Mankunku a great SA music icon … my thoughts go to his family and great friend Mike Perry.
The South African Rock Encyclopedia was founded by Brian Currin and Stephen "Sugar" Segerman in January 1999. View more posts
http://bushradio.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/a-special-tribute-to-winston-mankunku-ngozi/
For me the passing of Winston is a part of my personal legacy because his music played a large part in who I am, where I am today.
His music had that special power that transcended the prejudice that affected him during the apartheid years, his music was part of destroying the prejudice that the government of the time was trying to impose on people.
The legendary incident of him having to play from behind a curtain is in a sense proof of that power, because if you can picture the incident, why was it so important for that so-called white band to have him with them?
When you listen to the stories about those days you realise that this music was pulling people together, all the youngsters at the time wanted to share a stage with him, and when they did they were friends for life.
If you listen to his classic Yakhal Inkomo recording you hear that power and class come through, and you know why he was compared to legends like John Coltranc in his early years.
Winston played a major part in me having second thoughts about the prejudice that was imposed on me in my formative years, and yes many of us grew up in homes where the apartheid fears were perpetuated.
When I eventually encountered the music of Winston Mankunku, all those preconceptions of race, class, went out of my mind.
What I saw and heard was a group of so-called blacks, coloureds and whites on one stage making musical magic and working in harmony, from that point on I knew that I must not let anybody influence me with negative perceptions.
When I got into journalism I was honoured to become a friend, through his music, and be witness to his on-going love and passion for playing, also encouraging young people whenever he had the chance.
Many of our young players will have fond memories of playing at a jam and having the legend join them on stage. He would be sitting somewhere in a venue, and from the back you would hear that horn come through the audience.
Sometime the young horn player on stage would want to flee, but Winston would calmly hold him, and enfold him into the music.
These are also the friendships that would last forever. This attitude remained very special to many of the young cats around town, especially for somebody like Buddy Wells,
Buddy won a scholarship to study overseas, but he went to the committee and told them that he did not to do that, he wanted to use that money to study with Winston, of course it was refused.
The sad part is that the legacy of Winston’s music has not become a bigger part of our culture. We still cannot tune into a radio station and hear our music, we don’t show young people this music on TV, the story of how this music played a part in destroying apartheid is not told.
We can see the result out there where children are growing up with false cultural identities, and have more belief in crime and in what they can really become.
Why can’t people see that this music creates a harmony that brings people together, not tears them apart.
Thankfully, Winston’s music will live forever, because whenever the youngsters who play music, encounter it they want to play it.
Bra Winston, thank you for your love, thanks for your melody.
I would like to express on behalf of Mike Skipper (founder of the NYJF) his condolences to the Ngozi family in their time of sadness. South Africa has lost a great musician and indeed a good friend to so many. May he rest in peace.
A sad day and monumental loss to the world of music. Respect and condolences to the family and all who where blessed to know him.
The Magic of Mankunku by Miles Keylock http://bit.ly/IliJE
Tuto Pouane has also created a group on Facebook where we can share our thoughts and feelings of loss.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=152476206511
It Was with great sadness that i heard the news of Winstons passing today,from Mike.Although i am far away in New York my thoughts are with Winston,his family and his long time partner and friend Mike Perry.
It was an honour to have known you Winston.Rest in peace!
Neill Bernstein
. . . hambe kahle my comrade, the rich legacy you have bestowed, on all who heard and felt your essential sound, is divinity , . . condolences to friends and family and all South Africans . . .
This blog has been created at the request of Winston’s close friend, Mike Perry, and is a tribute to his work, and will be added to very soon.
the offical place to leave your thoughts and respects for a great music man
mike perry is one of his closest friends and this blog is created with mike’s sanction and mikes love and respect for the man.