Lucky Dube – Tragic African Icon

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Lucky Dube, pronounced “Doobay,” South African reggae singer, was born on 3 August, 1964 in Eastern Transvaal. He was named Lucky by his mother, Sarah, after she had suffered several miscarriages. Lucky Dube worked as a gardener and a security guard before he began to achieve his phenomenal success as a mbaqanga (Zulu pop) and reggae singer. He started his first band while still at school, known as “The Skyway Band.”

He was an arresting presence on stage, with his wild Rastafarian hairstyle, as he sang in three languages, Zulu, Afrikaans and English. He composed many of the soul-searching, politically arousing lyrics that inspired, and still inspire, people across the whole of the continent of Africa and globally.

The Outrage at Rosettenville

He died suddenly and unexpectedly on 23 October 2007, at the hands of car-hijackers, who wanted to steal his Chrysler 300C. The attack happened as he was dropping off two of his children at a relative's house in Rosettenville, Johannesburg. Lucky Dube was shot and fatally wounded, dying almost instantly.

This was a devastating blow for all people who knew and loved this man, universally acknowledged both as a truly charming and delightful man as well as a fine musician. Dube had just secured a deal with Warner Music International for his album, " Respect ."

According to BBC News on 31 October, 2007, police in South Africa who were hunting his killers, said that they had arrested five suspects. Two unlicensed guns and four cars had been seized, including the VW Polo believed to be the one used in the crime. Lucky Dube was only 43 years old. It was an ironic death, since it was “… of a musician who sang about his country’s crime problem,” said BBC News.

AYahoo News report on 31 March 2009 confirmed that five men had been arrested as suspects. Two were eventually released and the remaining three were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Artist, Father, Husband and Friend

The press release on Lucky Dube's memorial site quotes his close friend, Ivor J. Haarburger, CEO of Gallo Music Group, (formerly Teal Records.) Mr. Haarburger says: “Lucky was not just an extraordinary artist, he was a personal friend. We go back over twenty years and had both a business and personal relationship. It’s so sad to lose such a great friend and so tragically, why?”

Lucky Dube left a wife, Zanele and seven children Bongi, Nonkululeko, Thokozani, Laura, Siyanda, Philani and baby Melokuhle.

The Songs that made Lucky Dube an Icon

Woman from "Together as One": A few people have assumed Dube is saying that women should be submissive. On the contrary, this is a message, delivered in Dube’s ironic voice, representing the stance of masculine dominance adopted by many of his countrymen, juxtaposed, as it is, with the female chorus that is crying out for freedom and equality.

The beautiful song, " Prisoner " has evoked a number of responses, including this posting by "poteetang" which seems to sum up the very essence of this fine musician:

"Lucky Dube’s music had a message. But most people don’t realise it. Africa is where civilisation began. That is home to all the human beings in the world.”

Sources:

Lucky Dube Memorial Website.

BBC News, 31 October, 2007.

Yahoo News, 31 March, 2009 and 2 April, 2009.

Youtube.com