A Tribute to Afro Jazz artist Jabu Khanyile


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By Sifelani Tsiko
Harare,Zimbabwe (Nov 21 2006)

THE death of award winning Afro Jazz artist Jabu Khanyile on November 11 has robbed Africa of an authoritative voice of a musical genius who churned out hits that spoke about the daily
struggles of the people. Khanyile was widely respected in South Africa and through his music he became a cultural ambassador who
helped to shape the contemporary Afro jazz music genre.

In South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland,
Lesotho and other countries in the region and
elsewhere in the world, there was glowing praise for
Khanyile who often carried a fly whisk he was given by
a Kenyan old man in 1994.

The Soweto-born artist and his band Bayethe,  in the
1980s and 1990s  produced hits like Mbube, Zabalaza,
Mbombela, Mmalo-we and Umkhaya-lo.He walked with the masses and his music spoke out and was relevant to their daily struggles.

"Through his music, he related to the lives and
concerns of the majority of the people and he
understood that culture was a powerful weapon in the
struggle against apartheid," said one art critic
from South Africa.  He was the best possible ambassador for ubuntu." The powerful Congress of South African Trade Unions said: As well as being an exceptionally
talented musician, he was a man who never forgot his
roots in the working class. Workers have lost a friend
and an ally who spoke for all out people.
The labour movement described Khanyile as "A
humble and down to earth person who never allowed fame
to go to his head."

Khanyile was a Pan Africanist who staunchly defended African music at various international music festivals and who was devoted to sharing the stage with other African musical greats such as Youssou . Dour Papa Wemba and Oliver Mtukudzi.
Zimbabwe's musical icon Mtukudzi said, "Jabu was a friend. He supported me not because
of our friendship but because of concerns we shared.
His death is really a shock. Its devastating for the
music industry."

Khanyile was a pivotal figure in the evolving
conception of Afro jazz music. His penetrating jazz
hits fused tradition with contemporary tempo and style
creating unique musical rhythms that captivated
audiences all over the world.

He traveled widely and his look, his lifestyle and
his blend of music added a fresh dimension to
renaissance in the world of jazz.
Known in some circles as the Prince, Khanyile
performed in the UK in 1996, Sweden in 1997, the
Reunion an Indian Ocean island, Germany, Kenya and
almost all countries in the entire southern African
region.

He was laid to rest at moving ceremony on November
17 at Avlon cemetery in Soweto, south west of
Johannesburg. The funeral was attended by all the who
is who of South African music, his family and friends.
More than 100 artistes and fans paid their respects on
him at this funeral that evoked a sense of tradition,
love and a celebrated everything African.

Hits like No Work, Zabalaza ; meaning to resist,
was banned in South Africa during the apartheid era.
Tracks such as Dimazane and Kutheni na? Which simply
means, "What is happening?" was a song that
questioned the violence in black townships.
"Bayete, fronted by Jabu Khanyile, a brilliant
performer in his own right, is considered as one of
music's most original and compelling artistes, a
past mast at lyrical interpretation who mesmerises
audiences with his hypnotic, spellbinding and unique
Afro musical style," Terrence Mapurisana, a
respected Zimbabwean art critic voice once wrote in
1997.

Khanyile's music repertoire included mbaqanga,
Afro fusion, traditional Zulu dance melodies and
moving ballads. "It's a little bit of
everything," Jabu once remarked when he came to
Zimbabwe in 1996.

His music in many ways called African people back to
their roots and basic cultural values of Ubuntu.
He died at his home in Soweto after losing a long
battle against prostate cancer and diabetes.
He leaves behind his two wives Phindy Dlamini and
Khululiwe Sithole and seven children.

Khanyile was born in Soweto on February 8, 1957 and
joined the band Bayete in 1984 as a drummer.
He rose to fame in the 1980s as the leading vocalist
of Bayete producing hits such as Mbube, Mbombela, and
many others.

In 1993, he went solo and released a total of 8 albums
with the backing of Bayete.
Khanyile was the 1996 winner of the Kora Best South
African Artist award. He also scooped another musical
award in 2000 for his album the Prince.
There is no doubt that his music demonstrated the
irrestible and treasured appeal of Afican rhythms. He
was a driving force of contemporary jazz and ranked
highly among other talented artistes such as trumpeter
Hugh Masekela, pianist Abdullah Ibrahim "Dollar
Brand," jazz artistes Caiphus Semenya, Letta
Mbulu, Miriam Makeba and Jonas Gwangwa among others.
His death made news all over the world, not because he
was a celebrated jazz musician but because of the
sheer scale of his work that helped promote the appeal
and significance of Afro jazz music turning it into a
phenomenal success.

And just as the best known and most influential jazz
musician in the last half century Miles Davis was to
America so was Jabu Khanyile to Africa and the entire
world.

His name will remain petched at the apex of every
genre of Afro jazz music. For Jabu was sui generis of
his own time.

Lala ngokuthula.  Lala Ngoxolo (May his soul rest in
peace) 

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