African Reggae Legend at Ease; Lucky Dube's demise

18^th Oct 2007. Thursday 9:00 pm. Johannesburg, South Africa.

Africa’s leading Reggae icon Lucky Dube has been shot dead. The renowned reggae artist was shot in Rosettenville, one of the suburbs of the bustling South African city, considered to have one of the highest crime rates in the world. Lucky Dube 43, driving a blue polo, had just dropped of his son, when he was accosted by a gun man who shot him in what is believed to be a carjacking incident. His whom he had just dropped of witnessed the entire incident. Lucky Dube is one of Africa’s leading reggae superstars, and indeed a major reggae phenomenon the world over. Other African reggae bigwigs in Africa include Alpha Blondy, the group Ayaba and Usizi also from S.A among others.
Born Philip Dube, Lucky Dube has been instrumental in championing the reggae genre across the continent with massive album sales; His first two albums, “Slave” (about alcoholism) and “Prisoner”, both sold over 500,000 copies. He scored a major success when he performed at the annual Reggae Sunsplash in front of the world's most decisive reggae audiences, and was rated highly. His music speaks about love, social challenges, liberation and black consciousness. He played a pivotal in the fight against apartheid in the 80’s with his music, singing against the system. The role saw him achieve massive following amongst south Africans and Africans in general. His music had a soulful rhythm, with his powerful voice swinging across a defined back up of drum, bass and keyboards, highlighted by firm brass and guitar rhythms, accompanied by the electric voices of three African female voices of Marilyn, Deborah and Felicia, made it unique in the reggae genre.
Born of a single mother who thought she was barren, he was christened Lucky, with his second name Dube "Dobe" being the name of a town in the Johannesburg area. Lucky Dube grew up in the rough side of Johannesburg with his mother and later with his grand mother and an Uncle. His musical genius began early in life when he teamed up with other youngsters to try their luck in the industry; they bought their first guitar from sales of a performance of a song written by Dube, this perhaps highlighted the event full journey he was to take as a musician. Despite not having any proper training in music he went on to become an accomplished musician and song writer. From his first band the Skyward to Love Brothers lucky Dube had experience with the "Mbaqanqa" rhythm; a blend of traditional Zulu rhythms, before turning to Reggae in the early 1980’s. His music had the ability to transcend race lines as he got accolade for being the first black South African to be featured in a white radio station in a country which had a major challenge with race relations with the Song “Together As One”. His reggae influence came from the likes of great Legends like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh; Peter Tosh also met his death in the hands of a gun man in a robbery drama, while Bob Marley considered to be the King of Reggae died form cancer in his mid 30’s.

…Little boy before he lays down to sleep he prays, tonight as I lay down to sleep I pray the lord my soul to keep and if I die before I wake I pray the lord my soul to take…
...Lucky Dube ,Crazy World.

Posted by Protest.