South African jazz legend Abdullah Ibrahim dies at 91
Summary
Abdullah Ibrahim, a famous South African jazz musician, died at the age of 91 in Germany after a short illness. He was known for mixing South African music with jazz and was an important figure during the fight against apartheid.Key Facts
- Abdullah Ibrahim was born in 1934 in Cape Town, South Africa.
- He began playing piano and composing music at age seven.
- His famous 1974 song "Mannenberg" became a symbol of resistance against apartheid, a system of racial segregation in South Africa.
- He changed his name from Dollar Brand to Abdullah Ibrahim after converting to Islam in the late 1960s.
- Ibrahim played with the Jazz Epistles, a group that included other notable South African musicians like Hugh Masekela.
- Due to apartheid, Ibrahim moved to Switzerland and later the United States, where he developed his unique jazz style.
- Despite living abroad, he often returned to South Africa to perform and record music.
- His last public performance was at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival about three months before he died.
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