‘Thandi more famous in death’
HUGH MASEKELA ANGRY OVER FAKE SYMPATHY FOR LATE JAZZ LEGEND THANDI KLAASEN
THE late Thandi Klaasen is more famous in death than she was in life.
This is what legendary trumpeter Hugh Masekela told Sowetan during an exclusive interview where he made it clear why he had not eulogised Klaasen, who died on Sunday.
“I played with her in African Jazz in 1956 and I’ve never seen her so famous as in death.
“Every news bulletin and television station, every half an hour, they talk about her, but when she was alive she was hardly there.
“So whenever they call me I always say I don’t do death. How come you never called me when she was alive?”
Klaasen’s demise following a battle with pancreatic cancer shot up her name to national prominence and has seen politicians and industry heavyweights gather to mourn her at her house in Eden Park on the East Rand. But the iconic and outspoken Masekela said he was reluctant to pay tributes to Klaasen in death because she was not that celebrated in life. He did, however, share that he’d known Klaasen all his life. Masekela said he had as such boycotted the too-little, too-late tributes. “It’s funny. They (the media) have been calling me about Thandi. Every time somebody dies they call me and I say ‘why didn’t you call me when she was alive?’ “I don’t like commenting on people’s deaths, especially when they had a rough life. “What embarrasses me the most is that they send young people who never even knew the deceased. I can’t talk about a person I have deep respect for in that way. And who are you? Did you know her? So for you it’s just a news item?”
Klaasen will be buried next Friday in Boksburg.
This is not the first time Masekela chooses to go mum over the death or sickness of an icon. He infamously asked not to be interviewed for Nelson Mandela’s birthday or when he was ill.
“That’s why some people got pissed off with me whenever they called me for Mandela things. I would say: ‘Hey, there are other people involved in this country. He didn’t create South Africa. So every time he has a cough you call me? Come on’.”