Jazz legend celebrated 10 years after his death

Friends, protégés, academics and fans of the late Gqeberha jazz legend, Zimasile “Zim” Ngqawana, came together earlier this week to celebrate his musical genius.

The event was hosted virtually on the day that Ngqawana died in 2011 after suffering a stroke. People like Nicky B, Nduduzo Makhathini, Ayanda Sikade, Lindelwa Dalamba, Phillippa Yaa de Villiers and Qhawekazi Giyose, among others, had a conversation about Ngqawana’s music and the person he was.

Born in New Brighton, Ngqawana died at the age of 51. He released his debut studio album, San Song, in 1996. He toured the world with his band Ingoma and worked with the likes of Abdullah Ibrahim, Hugh Masekela and Wynton Marsalis.

Ngqawana was also keen on mentoring a new generation of SA musicians and later established the Zimology Institute to advance his music education.

Jazz pianist Makhathini, one of Ngqawana’s protégés who worked and toured the world with him, said as they marked 10 years since his death, he would never forget the legend had been a great storyteller and a good teacher.

He said everything that Ngqawana had shared was meaningful and his music came from a deep place.

Makhathini, who is reading for his doctor of philosophy (PhD) in Ngqwana’s music, praised the saxophonist for his open mind when it came to music. He said Ngqawana had even worked with Skwatta Kamp, a hip-hop group.

“He made sure that his sound spoke from a concept.

“For me the legacy that Ngqawana left is how he was able to connect public discontinuity between what we learnt when growing up and what we learnt in institutions.

“He always encouraged us that when making music, we need to look at the music that we listened to when growing up.

“He played his music differently. Sometimes we would rehearse songs and B section [known as bridge in music terminology], then when we get on stage he tells you to start from nothing.”

One of the country’s exceptional drummers, Ayanda Sikade, shared a beautiful story of how Ngqgawana had fought for him to be part of a youth jazz band going to play at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda when he knew Sikade could not read music well.

Sikade explained that Ngqawana, who was praised as a master of improvising, used to play music until tears ran down his face. While Ngqawana was lecturing at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, he founded a jazz band which Makhathini and Sikade joined.

“I auditioned and when I made it, he took me to a restaurant and we celebrated the success.

“I could not believe that he was arguing with the late Bra Lulu Gontsana and Feya Faku, telling them that I can play music. That was the start of our journey and friendship and we toured the world with him.”

Sarah Davids, the legend’s wife, who also runs the Zimology Institute, thanked everyone who had made the round table possible.

“Our plan is to bring everything under the Zimology Institute and continue with the conversation,” Davids said.