News & Media

His trombone is silent, but the music lives on

Share

The ever-smiling jazz musician, songwriter and producer was feted with a well-deserved honorary doctorate by Unisa in 2012.

Jazz trombone legend Jonas Mosa Gwangwa died at the age of 83 on Saturday, 23 January 2021. His death came 17 days after the passing of his wife, Violet Molebatsi Gwangwa, who passed away on 6 January. Gwangwa’s death was announced in a statement published on the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa’s website.

Paying tribute to the revered trombonist who used his music as a rallying cry against the apartheid regime was Unisa's Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, on Twitter. She wrote: “Unisa conferred an honorary doctorate to the late Mr Gwangwa in 2012 acknowledging his role as a musician and liberation icon who was against apartheid and its dehumanisation logics. Our condolences to his family and you all.”

Similarly, President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote in his Tweet: “A giant of our revolutionary cultural movement and our democratic creative industries has been called to rest; the trombone that boomed with boldness and bravery, and equally warmed our hearts with mellow melody has lost its life force.”

Born and raised in Orlando East, Soweto, Gwangwa learned the trombone in his boyhood. In the late 1950s, he became a founding member of the group named the Jazz Epistles and his immense contribution to SA’s jazz music was recognised not only locally but also globally.  He was an esteemed recipient of the Order of Ikhamanga and multiple-award-winning jazz musician mentored by alto saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi like many other great musicians. His music served also in service of activism. 

This remarkable musician chose to live in exile outside the country when SA’s apartheid regime censored jazz performances in the 1960s. Gwangwa served on the African National Congress (ANC) cultural desk as chief composer, arranger and music director of Amandla, the then banned liberation movement’s cultural ensemble.

He was nominated for an Oscar for music he composed for the 1987 movie “Cry Freedom,” which starred Denzel Washington and Kevin Kline.

Gwangwa passed away on the third anniversary of the death of fellow SA jazz legend, Hugh Masekela, and the second anniversary of the death of Zimbabwean musical maestro Oliver Mtukudzi.

Unisa conveys its sincerest condolences to the family and close friends of Jonas Gwangwa. #RIPJonasGwangwa, the flower of the nation. 

* Compiled by Lesego Ravhudzulo, Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement

Share

Publish date: 2021-01-26 00:00:00.0

Unisa Shop