Tribute To Lucky Dube

THE murder of reggae supper star Lucky Dube in a failed car hijack attempt last Thursday has shocked the world.

Messages of outrage, pain, grief and sorrow continue to pour through the media and Internet from the thousands of grieving and angry fans. A tribute article ‘Lucky Dube: A Complete Human Being’ by South African journalist and commentator Goldstuck received more than a million hits in 24 hours and hundreds of responses from as far as Grenada, Portugal, Fiji Islands, Canada to Germany, China and throughout Africa.The reaction in South Africa to Lucky Dube’s murder has been one of helplessness, anguish, pain and outrage.The country has come under international spotlight and national pressure to curb the escalating and gruesome crime levels, standing at an alleged murder death toll of 50 people per day, making South Africa one of the most dangerous places on earth after Iraq and Afghanistan.Ironically and despite research and daily statistics, the South African government is in denial by underplaying the gravity of the problem.One respondent asks: “Is it because of the bodyguards around you, the high walls where you live, twenty-four-hour security a day that you refuse to hear our desperate plea? Are you waiting to be victims yourselves before you can take action? Farewell Lucky Dube – a victim of circumstances you tried so hard to convince our leaders to acknowledge.”Reacting to the news of Dube’s death, Thabo Mbeki expressed his condolences and appealed to the country to fight the ‘scourge’ of crime: “This is very, very sad that this happened to an outstanding South African an outstanding musician, world renowned.”One aggrieved South African blogger asks: “Did we have to sacrifice such talent to awaken our government to the reality of crime in today’s South Africa? This is a reminder that no one is safe in this country, we are all under siege.Our lives have become so cheap and useless in today’s South Africa, how can a person kill Lucky Dube?” The African National Congress (ANC) on Friday condemned “in the strongest possible terms the barbaric and senseless killing by people who have no respect for life”.”We urge law enforcement agencies to act promptly in hunting down these nefarious, ruthless criminals who have robbed the Dube family of a father and a son, and a musical icon of all times to South Africa, Africa and the world at large,” the ruling party said in a statement.(Source Mail&Guardian) The Democratic Alliance said the country has been robbed of one of its most “talented and patriotic musical ambassadors”.The Congress of South African Trade Unions said it was “appalled and outraged” at the murder.”We are all devastated at the sudden and senseless killing of a star who brought so much joy to so many and who was the biggest single exporter of South African music internationally,” said spokesperson Patrick Craven.(Source M&G) “He will always remain in our hearts as a unique person with exceptional talent, which will never be equalled, combined with a strong commitment to the values of freedom and humanity which found expression in all his songs.”(Source M&G) To the millions of Lucky Dube fans outside South Africa the news has been devastating and too difficult to accept.It is no secret that Lucky Dube was more famous, renowned and loved outside his own country.For many Africans Lucky Dube was and still is nothing short of a hero, a legend, a mentor and even a friend.Lucky Dube performed to 50 000 capacity stadiums through out Africa and beyond.Lucky Dube is the only person in Ugandan history to fill a stadium to capacity in 2003, that record still stands today, not even a political rally has come anywhere close.One headline wrote “All Roads in Kampala lead to Lucky Dube” another read “Lucky Dube Brings Kampala to a Standstill.”Then there was a story of a husband who battered his wife after overhearing her telling her friends how much she loved Lucky Dube, mistaking this ‘Lucky’ for a lover.”We Ugandans, including the President, are grieving” reads one message from Uganda.In Zambia the reaction has just been as devastating.Lucky Dube is beloved in Zambia, from the wealthy to the poor.I was there just last week: in a taxi, at the market, in the minibus, listening to his soulful sounds.I have received calls from family and have sobbed on the phone as though we lost a close family member.On Friday evening I received a text message from a friend.”The mood here is bad, some people are planning to drink the night away and hoping to die.”On the online discussion a Namibian currently in China wrote: “I am not coming to the [2010 Soccer] World Cup, in case you kill me over a few N$”.Other respondents strongly appealed to FIFA to withdraw the 2010 World Cup.The millions of Lucky Dube fans, me chief of them, are grief-stricken, his death has taken a part of us, our lives are forever altered never to be the same.We just entered a new era, the post Lucky Dube era, an era which so far is filled with pain, sorrow, disbelief and grief at a loss on an exceptional life.He was more than just a reggae superstar; he was God’s messenger to humankind, a friend, and a hero.He is dead, but he will live on because legends never die.(The Warehouse Theatre will host a tribute to celebrate the life and songs of a musical genius, a peace advocate, a father, a mentor, a hero, an artist, Lucky Dube the complete human being, on Saturday Oct 27, at 19h30).Sampa Kangwa-Wilkie Via e-mailA tribute article ‘Lucky Dube: A Complete Human Being’ by South African journalist and commentator Goldstuck received more than a million hits in 24 hours and hundreds of responses from as far as Grenada, Portugal, Fiji Islands, Canada to Germany, China and throughout Africa.The reaction in South Africa to Lucky Dube’s murder has been one of helplessness, anguish, pain and outrage.The country has come under international spotlight and national pressure to curb the escalating and gruesome crime levels, standing at an alleged murder death toll of 50 people per day, making South Africa one of the most dangerous places on earth after Iraq and Afghanistan.Ironically and despite research and daily statistics, the South African government is in denial by underplaying the gravity of the problem.One respondent asks: “Is it because of the bodyguards around you, the high walls where you live, twenty-four-hour security a day that you refuse to hear our desperate plea? Are you waiting to be victims yourselves before you can take action? Farewell Lucky Dube – a victim of circumstances you tried so hard to convince our leaders to acknowledge.”Reacting to the news of Dube’s death, Thabo Mbeki expressed his condolences and appealed to the country to fight the ‘scourge’ of crime: “This is very, very sad that this happened to an outstanding South African an outstanding musician, world renowned.”One aggrieved South African blogger asks: “Did we have to sacrifice such talent to awaken our government to the reality of crime in today’s South Africa? This is a reminder that no one is safe in this country, we are all under siege.Our lives have become so cheap and useless in today’s South Africa, how can a person kill Lucky Dube?” The African National Congress (ANC) on Friday condemned “in the strongest possible terms the barbaric and senseless killing by people who have no respect for life”.”We urge law enforcement agencies to act promptly in hunting down these nefarious, ruthless criminals who have robbed the Dube family of a father and a son, and a musical icon of all times to South Africa, Africa and the world at large,” the ruling party said in a statement.(Source Mail&Guardian) The Democratic Alliance said the country has been robbed of one of its most “talented and patriotic musical ambassadors”.The Congress of South African Trade Unions said it was “appalled and outraged” at the murder.”We are all devastated at the sudden and senseless killing of a star who brought so much joy to so many and who was the biggest single exporter of South African music internationally,” said spokesperson Patrick Craven.(Source M&G) “He will always remain in our hearts as a unique person with exceptional talent, which will never be equalled, combined with a strong commitment to the values of freedom and humanity which found expression in all his songs.”(Source M&G) To the millions of Lucky Dube fans outside South Africa the news has been devastating and too difficult to accept.It is no secret that Lucky Dube was more famous, renowned and loved outside his own country.For many Africans Lucky Dube was and still is nothing short of a hero, a legend, a mentor and even a friend.Lucky Dube performed to 50 000 capacity stadiums through out Africa and beyond.Lucky Dube is the only person in Ugandan history to fill a stadium to capacity in 2003, that record still stands today, not even a political rally has come anywhere close.One headline wrote “All Roads in Kampala lead to Lucky Dube” another read “Lucky Dube Brings Kampala to a Standstill.”Then there was a story of a husband who battered his wife after overhearing her telling her friends how much she loved Lucky Dube, mistaking this ‘Lucky’ for a lover.”We Ugandans, including the President, are grieving” reads one message from Uganda.In Zambia the reaction has just been as devastating.Lucky Dube is beloved in Zambia, from the wealthy to the poor.I was there just last week: in a taxi, at the market, in the minibus, listening to his soulful sounds.I have received calls from family and have sobbed on the phone as though we lost a close family member.On Friday evening I received a text message from a friend.”The mood here is bad, some people are planning to drink the night away and hoping to die.”On the online discussion a Namibian currently in China wrote: “I am not coming to the [2010 Soccer] World Cup, in case you kill me over a few N$”.Other respondents strongly appealed to FIFA to withdraw the 2010 World Cup.The millions of Lucky Dube fans, me chief of them, are grief-stricken, his death has taken a part of us, our lives are forever altered never to be the same.We just entered a new era, the post Lucky Dube era, an era which so far is filled with pain, sorrow, disbelief and grief at a loss on an exceptional life.He was more than just a reggae superstar; he was God’s messenger to humankind, a friend, and a hero.He is dead, but he will live on because legends never die.(The Warehouse Theatre will host a tribute to celebrate the life and songs of a musical genius, a peace advocate, a father, a mentor, a hero, an artist, Lucky Dube the complete human being, on Saturday Oct 27, at 19h30).Sampa Kangwa-Wilkie Via e-mail

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