Artists Honor Lucky Tamba Dube
Liberian Delegation Departs for SA Funeral Tomorrow, By Alaskai Moore Johnson & F. Momolu Dorley
Published: 26 October, 2007
Several Liberian artistes from various groupings in the country held an open solidarity concert yesterday in Monrovia in honor of slain reggae legend Lucky Tamba Lamin Dube.
The concert drew together many who adore the legendary South African reggae star, gunned down 18 October in an apparent car theft by robbers.
Liberia's leading cultural artist, Julie Endee, chairman steering committee of the self-styled group, 'Fans of Dube' along with Jerry Taylor, son of the late Chief Tamba Taylor led an array of artistes in staging the concert.
Liberians, young and old gathered at the Old Executive Mansion on Broad Street, to pay their last homage. Even students leaving schools and other passersby were attracted to the gathering by the lyrics of the famed star's music being played by local musicians. They also signed a book of condolence which the 'Fans of Dube' had at the yesterday's gala.
Alaskai Moore Johnson and Fonigil Momolu Dorley, of the Daily Observer who had gone to give the event coverage along with other journalists joined the caravan and signed the book.
One of the youngsters who signed the book of condolence shouted, “They did not want Lucky to perform at this coming World Cup in South Africa.”
South Africa will host the first ever football World Cup held on the African continent in
2010.
Jerry Taylor's late father, Chief Tamba Taylor, honored Lucky Dube on the legend’s trip to the country in 1999 and named him Tamba Lamin. Taylor said his father weighed the reggae star's accomplishments and recognized he was purely an African Legend who live a decent and moral life
Taylor averred that the late Lucky Dube through out his life was an advocate of peace and he did not relent advocating for the oppressed.
Ambassador Julie Endee said the women of Liberia condemn the killers of Lucky and call for the immediate halt to the spread of small arms.
It is noted that second to deaths from HIV/AIDS in the South African society are deaths by small arms.
She disclosed that a delegation from Liberia would depart the country to attend the funeral of the late Lucky Dube in his native land South Africa.
The Government of Liberia on Wednesday opened a book of condolence for Lucky Dube at the Information Ministry.
During his lifetime, South African reggae star Lucky Dube was a man on a mission to make the world a better place. "Hey you Rasta man. Hey you European, Indian man. We've got to come together as one," goes the lyrics of one of his anti-apartheid hits, “Together as One.”
Unity, peace, freedom and respect were Lucky Dube's mantras.
At the age of 18, Dube recorded his first album playing traditional Mbaqanga music, but it was a genre that he felt constrained his ambition.
"Mbaqanga is only known in Southern Africa and it's mostly sung in Zulu. I wanted my music to be heard - my message - not only in South Africa. Reggae music is found everywhere so reggae was my first vehicle to take this message across to people in the world," the singer told the BBC shortly before his death.
Dube's determination paid off for in the thousands upon thousands of tributes that continued to be paid to him after his shooting on Thursday. It is his message that people remember.
"It takes me back to the early stage of the Liberian civil crisis when we were looking for food and shelter - for somebody to give us back hope. It was the voice of Lucky Dube that brought hope to many Liberians," Liberian fan Tom Takor told the BBC on hearing about Dube's death.
Like his musical mentor - the late reggae musician Peter Tosh, Dube was killed in an armed robbery.
Shots were fired at his car as he dropped off his two teenage children in Johannesburg, circumstances in his 1999 track Crime and Corruption says are all too common in South Africa:
Over his 25-year career it was not only his lyrics that spoke of pain and suffering.
"The melody comes with some sorrow," Ghanaian musician Batman Samini explains.
"It tells exactly where he's crying from. The right melody is carrying the right message to you. Most Ghanaians could tell South Africa's grief through Lucky's cry."
Growing up during apartheid was not easy: Dube's parents split up before he was born and he spent much of his childhood with his grandmother as his mother struggled to make a living as a domestic servant.
From an early age, he worked in gardens in white suburbs to pay for his schooling.
"South Africa has always been a very sad country - the racial divisions and the fact that Lucky came up the hard way explain his music - poverty and of course the early days in his career in the music industry was rough," says Makurube.
But Dube went on to build a huge career, tackling a range of social problems, and was particularly loved in Africa where he drew huge crowds.
Shy, gentle, friendly and dedicated are words that have been used to describe the 43-year-old singer who despite being Rastafarian did not use marijuana or drink alcohol.
He is survived by his wife and seven children, including a three-month-old baby.
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