27 January, 2012 – Kukude Lapho Sivelakhona: The life and times of Jonas Gwangwa, is an exhibition currently hosted at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory that pays tribute to Jonas Gwangwa.
A member of South Africa’s first bebop band The Jazz Epistles, Gwangwa played trombone alongside Dollar Brand (later known as Abdullah Ibrahim) on piano, Kippie Moeketsi on alto saxophone, Hugh Masekela on trumpet, Johnny Gertze on bass and Early Mabuza or Makaya Ntshoko on drums.
The Jazz Epistles became famous after performing in the jam sessions called Jazz at the Odin in the Odin Theater in Sophiatown.
Gwangwa himself became world-renowned in the early 1970s after featuring in numerous musical collaborations with anti-apartheid activists in exile.
The highlights of his career include composing the score for the movie Cry Freedom and performing at the Nelson Mandela 70th birthday tribute concert in Wembley Stadium.
The exhibition explores the life and times of Gwangwa as a composer, songwriter and musician during the apartheid era. It also depicts Gwangwa’s personal life, and deals with his contribution to the role of arts, culture and performance in the liberation struggle against apartheid and its impact in the post apartheid era.
To view images and read more about the exhibition please click here.