JOHANNESBURG: Globally celebrated South African jazz icon Abdullah Ibrahim, who carried out at Nelson Mandela’s 1994 presidential inauguration, has died at age 91, his household introduced in a press release Monday (Jun 15).
Ibrahim, previously referred to as Greenback Model, handed away peacefully in Germany following a brief sickness, surrounded by family members, the assertion issued on behalf of his household mentioned.
Born in Cape City, Ibrahim rose to worldwide prominence as a pianist, composer and bandleader. With a profession spanning greater than seven a long time, he solid a novel mix of jazz and South African musical traditions, making him a cultural ambassador whose music struck a chord with listeners worldwide.
As one in every of South Africa’s most revered jazz figures, he famously performed at Nelson Mandela’s 1994 presidential inauguration.
His remaining public live performance in South Africa befell on the Cape City Worldwide Jazz Competition in March, when he as soon as once more captivated audiences with the musical talent that outlined his profession.
Paying tribute to her companion, Dr. Marina Umari mentioned he “handed away peacefully with South Africa and its folks in his coronary heart.”
“His love for his nation by no means wavered, regardless of the place on this planet he discovered himself,” she mentioned.
His household mentioned that despite the fact that his life is over, his affect and voice would proceed to resonate all over the world.
