Hugh Masekela is one of the most recognized, beloved figures in music. His success gave mainstream media attention to "township jazz," inspired several generations of South African musicians, and was a defining influence in shaping our perception of South African music. In this video interview, he reflects on his life and work, and what motivates him now.
The video captures footage of his recent concert for SFJazz at the Palace of Fine Arts, whose assistance was invaluable in creating the video. Also included is footage from several earlier concerts, and an audio interview with 84-year-old Harry Belafonte, a father-figure in Masekela's life, and also one of Masekela's current band members, drummer Lee-Roy Sauls.
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By Jeff Kaliss
Hugh Masekela is one of the most recognized, beloved figures in world music. In this story, which complements the new SFCV video, Masekela tells his story to Jeff Kaliss and talks about what’s important to him now.
This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.