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This story was first published byThe Conversation. Music is not a zero sum game with only one “best”. But if you seek to name one musician whose life embodies the South African people’s struggle for a national culture, it must be trombonist, composer and cultural activist Jonas Mosa Gwangwa, who was born on 19 October 1937 in Orlando East, Johannesburg, and died on 23 January 2021 in Johannesburg aged 83. Through 65 years on stage, Gwangwa’s playing contributed to every genre of South African jazz. Overseas, he was hailed as player, producer and composer. Yet he chose to step away fro...

Jonas Gwangwa: The musician who embodied South Africa’s struggle for a national culture The trombonist, composer and cultural activist never wished to be ‘the state composer’ but remained political until the end. Jonas Gwangwa at the Cape Town Jazz Festival in April 2017. | Jonas Gwangwa/Twitter Music is not a zero-sum game with only one “best”. But if you seek to name one musician whose life embodies the South African people’s struggle for a national culture, it must be trombonist, composer and cultural activist Jonas Mosa Gwangwa, who was born on October 19, ...

The revered trombonist, composer and cultural activist never wished to be 'the state composer' but remained political until the end, in service of the people.