The news came unexpectedly in a text message this morning (Tuesday 13 October 2009): “Bro Winston Mankunku Ngozi has passed on. Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends. May he find peace.”

Just two Sundays ago, we were paying tribute to Mankunku and his music at the inappropriately named Swingers jazz club. At the same time, we were trying to raise money to pay for his hospital costs.

I don’t quite know what was wrong with Mankunku (it was explained to me) but all I know is that he had several ailments, and that one of his fingers had to be amputated, meaning that if he ever recovered, he would not be able to perform again.

There were several highlights during the Mankunku tribute, with performances from people such as Sylvia Mdunyelwa, Duke and Ezra Ngcukana, and a surprise performance by Vicky Sampson, who spoke about the impact this formidable musician had made on her life.

Mankunku made a huge impression on my life too, along with other musicians such as Abdullah Ibrahim, Miriam Makeba, Basil Coetzee, Kippie Moeketsi and Robbie Jansen.

With his wailing, lofting saxophone, on songs such as Yakhal’ Inkomo (meaning “the bellowing bull” in Xhosa) and Dudula (“forward”), Winston managed to captivate audiences across races and cultures.

Over the years, he performed all over the world with, among others, pianist Jack van Pohl, Mike Perry, Chris Schilder, Stompie Manana, Dudu Pukwana, Ernest Mothle and Roger Khoza, who also performed at the recent tribute concert.

Mankunku was born in Retreat, Cape Town, in 1943. His interest in music started at an early age when he experimented with piano and trumpet before settling on the saxophone.

The last time I saw him perform was at last year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival when he made a cameo appearance during a Gavin Minter performance. I wish I could see him perform just one more time.

Hamba kahle Bra Winston. Rest in peace.

Author

  • Ryland Fisher is former editor of the Cape Times and author of the book Race. This is his second book, following on Making the Media Work for You, which was published in 2002. He is executive chairperson of the Cape Town Festival, which he initiated while editor of the Cape Times in 1999 as part of the One City Many Cultures project. He received an international media award for this project in New York in October 2006. His personal motto is "bringing people together", which was the theme of One City Many Cultures. It remains the theme of the Cape Town Festival and is the theme of Race. Ryland has worked in and with government, in the media for more than 25 years, in the corporate sector, in NGOs and in academia. Ultimately, however, he describes himself as "just a souped-up writer".

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Ryland Fisher

Ryland Fisher is former editor of the Cape Times and author of the book Race. This is his second book, following on Making the Media Work for You, which was published in 2002. He is...

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