I was once shown the script for a biopic purporting to tell the early story of the late singer. It was highly professional, but a shallow, deeply patriarchal thing in which Masuku’s pioneering work as a composer, her acute and precocious political consciousness and proud pan-Africanism were sidelined in favour of a narrative of affairs and flirtations.
Yes, Masuku was a singer. But she was so much more: a composer, a hero of the struggle, and an architect of the discourse of popular African liberation music.Masuku was born in Bulawayo in then Rhodesia in 1935. Her father was a chef, originally from Zambia, but her mother, Liza Mafuyani, was a Zulu-speaking South African whose family originated from the province of KwaZulu-Natal, and whose sister lived in Soweto.
The young Dorothy moved to live with her aunt in South Africa in 1947, aged 12, when, on health grounds – she had asthma – she was enrolled at St Thomas Convent School in Johannesburg. There, she joined the school choir and her talent was immediately spotted. Historical narratives of jazz in that era focus on the solidarity among male musicians. But when Masuku spoke of those days at a recent panel discussion, she revealed a different story. There were links and solidarities among women musicians, from her tuition in Yiddish lyrics with actress
MasukA
MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE
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Dorothy Masuku: Africa has lost a singer, composer and a hero of the struggleSongstress Dorothy Masuku once said that music was like breathing for her. May her beautiful soul Rest In Peace
Source: eNCA - 🏆 49. / 51 Read more »
Dorothy Masuku: Africa has lost a singer, composer and a hero of the struggleDorothy Masuku was not simply the “jazz singer” many newscasts have labelled her, although she certainly was that too. And she certainly had a life worthy of a serious biopic, writes Gwen Ansell. 😢😢😢😢
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »
Dorothy Masuku: Africa has lost a singer, composer and a hero of the struggleSongstress Dorothy Masuku once said that music was like breathing for her. May her beautiful soul Rest In Peace
Source: eNCA - 🏆 49. / 51 Read more »
Dorothy Masuku: Africa has lost a singer, composer and a hero of the struggleDorothy Masuku was not simply the “jazz singer” many newscasts have labelled her, although she certainly was that too. And she certainly had a life worthy of a serious biopic, writes Gwen Ansell. 😢😢😢😢
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »