Mtukudzi recalls good times with Bra Hugh

Zimbabwean tells of friendship that lasted for 33 years

LONG time friend‚ mentor and brother is how Oliver Mtukudzi described the late Bra Hugh Masekela and reminisced on the amazing times they had together in their 33 years of friendship.

Oliver arrived in South Africa on Monday to promote his upcoming album‚ but woke up to the devastating news on Tuesday morning that Masekela had died following a nineyear battle with prostate cancer.

The Zimbabwean-born legendary musician said his friendship with Masekela was one of the most natural relationships he had.

“Birds of the same feathers flock together‚ so it was very easy for us to be friends. We thought alike‚ understood the purpose of what we do and how we were doing it for the right reasons. He was the only artist who paid me a visit‚ right in the rural home area where I come from. He came and he learnt about me and I about him.”

He said they shared the same views about most things and respected the different views they each had on many other matters.

The hitmaker said Masekela had not been an entertainer‚ instead he was always teaching lessons even when he told jokes. He said he admired the way he lived his life without filter‚ embracing it for all it was.

He laughed as he remembered the first time they met‚ in 1984. He explained that he had been playing in a club when Masekela just climbed onto the stage midsong and joined in with his trumpet.

“I had a show at a club and as I was performing‚ I saw this guy … who took out his flugelhorn and just came onto the stage and started blowing his sound into my song,” Mtukudzi explained.

“I don’t like when people just walk on to the stage and do whatever they want‚ but when he started‚ I realised ‘ai his playing is complementing my song so well and he sounds experienced’. After the song he just stepped off and left‚ but after my set I saw him and asked the club owner‚ ‘who is that guy?’. He said that is Hugh Masekela.”

Mtukudzi said more than losing a great friend‚ he was grateful to have found a friend in Masekela and would cherish their memories for ever.