Jazz aficionados mourn Duke Ngcukana

Staff Writer

LEGENDARY Cape Town jazz musician and teacher Duke Ngcukana has died after a battle with tuberculosis of the abdomen. He was 63.

Ngcukana died in the Claremont Clinic on Saturday.

Relatives and friends said they would miss him for his selflessness and passion for life.

Mfana Ngcukana said his older brother had been admitted to hospital three times since the beginning of the year.

“Doctors were happy about his progress and discharged him a few weeks ago,” he said.

“But after a few days back home he fell ill again and went back to hospital. They tried to treat him, but he gave up (on Saturday).

“He was passionate about education, especially maths and sciences. He was selfless and put the needs of others before his, and he will truly be remembered in the community for that.”

His brother had encouraged and helped a number of young people over the decades.

Ngcukana leaves his mother, two children and three grandchildren.

Friend and former journalist Sandile Dikeni said that Ngcukana was one of the most disciplined musicians in the country.

Event managers EspAfrika’s chief executive, Rashid Lombard, said: “It’s another loss for the music fraternity. Duke will always be remembered for his endless contribution as a band leader and (for his) music education.”

Ngcukana was born in Langa in 1948. He became involved in music at the age of six through the Salvation Army, where he was exposed to a wide range of genres.

He studied science and education at Fort Hare University. By 1970 he was juggling a Cape Town teaching career with work in bands such as Pacific Express and the Soul Jazzmen.

In 1981 he founded the Langa Adult Choir.

Among other instruments, Ngcukana played the trumpet and the flugelhorn. He was also a choir director and composer.

He founded the Cups Nkanuka Big Band and a 20-piece band, the Living Heritage Ensemble, with his brothers Ezra, Fitzroy, Cyril and Claude.

His death follows those of a number of noted Cape Town musicians, including his brother Ezra, Vincent Kolbe, Hotep Idris Galeta, and Robbie Jansen.

xolani.koyana@inl.co.za