Remembering Bra Hugh: South Africans pay tribute to legendary jazz musician

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03:20

To South Africa now. Friends of legendary jazz musician Hugh Masekela have staged a tribute concert for him in Johannesburg. The event was hosted by the Masekela Heritage Foundation in memory of the late Afro-Jazz artist. The event featured a star-studded line-up, as CGTN's Julie Scheier reports.

Affectionately known as Bra Hugh, the legendary musician inspired artists all over the world. Hugh Masekela's death from prostate cancer in January, came as an immeasurable loss to the South African music industry.

SELEMA WRITES VOCALIST "We are very proud of him. And the legacy that he's left is one that we want to share with the whole world, and make sure that the things that he did on this earth don't get forgotten."

In a fitting tribute, equal to his musical genius, the Masekela Heritage Foundation hosted the concert.

HAPPY MOTHA SINGER "It's a very special show, and it's a very special moment. It simmers our hearts into his work. It feels like the man is just with us. And it feels just breathtaking because there is just life in his music, The reality of our stories, the truthfulness in each and every lyric, it just goes down to our soul."

Fans were treated to some of Masekela's most popular tunes.

"You can't speak about South African music without talking about Bra Hugh Masekela. His footprint was felt all over the world, and so much so, that this tribute show speaks volumes to what he meant to South Africans. And that's why I'm here because he meant a lot to me too."

"I love Bra Hugh. I love his music. I love everything about him. I love this song that he sings with Thandiswa Mazwai.

"Bra Hugh inspired me a lot. He was not only a good musician, but he was also a rights activist. His songs told stories, stories of migration, of people from their homes to the mine. He was just my hero."

A charismatic horn blower and vocalist, Bra Hugh's career spanned five decades. He encouraged generations of young artists to tell African stories through their work.

BUBELE MGELE SINGER "It has changed how I think about music and it has changed, I used to think there were limits in how you do things, there were structures and all that. But through him, I learnt that there were no limits. That there are no boundaries. It's a matter of you finding who you are and taking it out to the whole world."

This vibrant show in honour of Afro-Jazz maestro now moves onto London for the next leg. JS, CGTN, JHB, SA.