Parliament, Saturday 19 May 2018 – The Presiding Officers of Parliament send their condolences to the family of South African jazz legend Dr Philip Tabane, who passed away on Friday.

He is best known for his hit songs Nkupi and Muvhango but acclaim for his music goes back much further – to the Malombo Jazzmen, the band he formed in the early 1960s.

He was amongst the South African jazz greats whose pioneering music defied the constraints of oppression during the height of apartheid and showcased our country's unique and remarkable talent to the world. The Malombo Jazzmen toured the United States in the 1970s, where renowned musicians, such as, Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis played with them. Their album, Malombo, was a commercial and critical success.

Through his masterpieces, Dr Tabane made the world pay attention and recognise South Africa's rich traditional culture and appreciate the timeless beauty of the boundless quality of its arts.

His music was a uniting force that not only connected South Africa with the word but also bridged different generations. He inspired and worked with a range of younger musicians and, until the end, continued to captivate and serenade his legion of fans with his unique and ageless spiritually evocative repertoire.

Although this legendary guitarist and outstanding South African is no more, his distinctive, uplifting music will live on.

The Presiding Officers also extend condolences to his friends and colleagues in the arts for this great loss.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
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