GAUTENG – Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Mr Lebogang Maile, has expressed deep sadness following the passing of South African jazz icon Abdullah Ibrahim. On behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government, Maile extended condolences to Ibrahim’s family, friends, fellow musicians and all South Africans, describing him as one of the nation’s greatest cultural figures whose music inspired hope, resistance and dignity during the apartheid era.
Maile praised Ibrahim’s six-decade career, highlighting his role in shaping South African jazz and using music as a tool for liberation and social change. He said Ibrahim’s famous composition, Mannenberg, became a symbol of freedom and resilience, while his influence helped elevate South African jazz on the global stage. The MEC also noted the important role jazz played in township communities, where it fostered creativity, identity and social awareness.
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