In the greatest memory of Lucky Dube – we salute you

This day as I am sitting in the GoXtra News offices, Johannesburg South suburb, Lang Street, I can’t refrain from thinking this is the same street that Lucky Philip Dube (Pronounced Doo-beh) was murdered on the 18th of October 2007. The memories of the street keep on reflecting the murder of the South Africa’s reggae icon who was born on the 3rd of August 1964.

He was born in Ermelo, formerly of the Eastern Transvaal. His parents separated before his birth and he was raised by his mother, Sarah, who named him Lucky because she considered his birth fortunate after a number of failed pregnancies.

He recorded 22 albums in Zulu, English and Afrikaans in a 25 year period and was South Africa’s biggest selling reggae artist. This area reminds me more of Lucky.

As a child Dube worked as a gardener but, as he matured, realizing that he wasn't earning enough to feed his family, he began to attend school. There he joined a choir and, with some friends, formed his first musical ensemble, called The Skyway Band. While at school he discovered the Rastafari movement. At the age of 18 Dube joined his cousin's band, The Love Brothers, playing Zulu pop music known as Mbaqanga whilst funding his lifestyle by working for Hole and Cooke as a security guard at the car auctions in Midrand.

Lang Street, Rosettenville, Johannesburg South. This is the street that Lucky Dube was murdered.

I felt touched and sad when his band One Africa performed at the Macufe main music festival in Bloemfontein commemorating the legendary Dube. It brought to the audience the feel of Lucky and that made me happy, especially imagining he was alive and how far would his career be to date.

Rest In Peace Lucky Philip Dube!

The Editor | Buchule Raba

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