Lucky Dube
This Rasta Has Something To Say
Then Lucky Dube is for you!
This is "highly nutritional" music from a conscious man, who actually has something to say.
The African reggae artist took the Jamaican music style to another level with his unique voice and touching lyrics.
Real life stories that you can relate to
Lucky Dube loved to watch people, their movements, the things they do. His songs are based on real life situations and experiences of ordinary people. That's probably why his music gives goosebumps. Anybody can relate to it.
As for me, I can't listen to his song it's not easy without my heart getting stirred up is there a song that seems just speak to you or tell your story? Chances are that you'll find one on Lucky's 22 albums.
There's inspiration, advice and wisdom in all of his music. That's what I love about it. It's like meat and potato in today's tasteless soup of meaningless noise.
His protest against injustice
Lucky Dube didn't make music solely for entertainment. His most important message can best be expressed in his own words:
"When I see a black man,
I see the image of God.
When I see a white man,
I see the image of God.
And that's the way it should be.
We belong together."
That's a big word from a man who grew up under the oppression of the racist apartheid regime that ruled South Africa
.
His
early music was a protest against this constant discrimination
and injustice, that the black population
suffered in his country. Values like togetherness and equal rights are always a central topic in his songs. Like many rastafarians, he is preaching peace and consciousness in his music. His first reggae album "Rastas Never Die" was quickly banned by the government in 1985 because of its anti-apartheid song texts. It had only sold 4000 copies.
Lucky Dube was no dreamer:
"This oneness and this peace, this one love we talk about maybe only exists in our mind. It doesn't really exist in real life. Because politicians will always divide people."
However, no setback of this kind can discourage a person with a vision. Lucky continued to be outspoken in his music and stand for what he believed in.
That must be the reason why he gained so much...
Love and respect from Africans and fans
When carjackers murdered him in 2007, it was amazing to witness how the whole of Africa was, and still is, mourning him. In Ghana, where I lived at the time, you would hear his music in every drinking spot, every taxi and on every radio station. Every little kid knows his name and music there!
Because Ghanaians are such crazy fans, I really started to wonder who this man was. Here's a quick list of...
Interesting Facts About Lucky Dube
1 His birth
Lucky Dube was born on 3rd August 1964 on a
small farm
in Ermelo, in South Africa. 2
His Name
"Lucky Philip Dube" was his real name. Thankful about his birth, his
mother
named him like that after having lost a baby.3
His Childhood
Like many other kids in Africa, Lucky often had
to work and help support his
family instead of going to school. He once worked as a gardener or as a
library assistant. He was partly raised by his granny because as a single mom, his mother was working a lot as well.
4
His Music
He started
to make music when he was still a child. He recorded a number of
"mbaqanga"
albums in the languages of Zulu and Afrikaans before switching to
reggae in 1984, inspired by Peter Tosh. 5 His Career
He was the biggest selling reggae artist of South Africa. His album
"Prisoner" was South Africa's best selling album of the 1980s/90s and
"Victims" sold over 1 mio copies. The compilation "Serious Reggae
Business" had phenomenal sales in Ghana. He won over 20 awards
in South Africa and internationally. He was on tour most of the time.6
His Movies
He appeared in the
movies "Getting Lucky", "Lucky Strikes Back" and in the feature film
"Voice In The Dark".
7
His Private Life
He
and his wife Zanele had seven children. He was a big fan and owner of horses.
8
His Principles
He strictly
refused to
smoke ganja,
drink alcohol or use any other drug in order to be a good example for
his
children
and the youth. He was a peaceful protester against racial discrimination, war and crime.
9
His Death
During an attempted carjacking on 18.10.2007 in Rosettenville,
a suburb of
Johannesburg, he was shot and killed in his car in front of the eyes
of his teenage kids. He was only 43
years old. The three murderers were caught and jailed for life.10
His Home Country
The Apartheid government came into power in 1948 and officially
discriminated the black population until the 1990ies.
Around 19'000 murders were registered in South Africa during the year
2008. Most victims are young, black males.
