The legendary South African jazz pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim has died at the age of 91 in Germany, his family announced in a statement released on Monday. The influential musician, who recorded more than 70 albums over his extensive career, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family following an illness.
Born Adolph Johannes Brand in 1934, he began taking piano lessons at the age of seven under the influence of his mother, who played in church and accompanied silent film screenings. According to his official website, Ibrahim spent over 75 years expanding the language of jazz by directly linking the New York-born genre to its ancestral roots in Africa.
Due to the oppressive South African apartheid regime, Ibrahim relocated to New York City, where he lived for more than 30 years, residing at the famous Chelsea Hotel and studying at Juilliard. In the 1960s, jazz became a powerful symbol of resistance against apartheid due to the racial diversity of both the musical groups and their audiences.
During a visit back to South Africa in 1974, he recorded the composition “Mannenberg,” which is widely considered a cornerstone anthem of the anti-apartheid movement due to its frequent use during rallies and street protests. Ibrahim and his future wife, singer Sathima Bea Benjamin, later signed a contract to perform at a club in Zurich, Switzerland.
Read more: Carminho is the most nominated artist at the Play awards
It was there in 1963 that the South African musician was discovered by American jazz icon Duke Ellington, who was so impressed that he immediately arranged a recording session in Paris. Ibrahim later recalled in an interview that they played just one song for Ellington before taking a train to Paris the very next day to record.
Abdullah Ibrahim famously performed at the 1994 inauguration of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s first Black president, and although he subsequently founded a jazz school in his home country, he maintained a busy international career. He had three solo piano recitals scheduled in Germany later this year, including a July performance in Munich.
In Portugal, the revered pianist performed for the last time in 2022 at the Theatro Circo in Braga. His storied performance history in the country also included prominent concerts at the Culturgest Grand Auditorium in Lisbon in both 2011 and 2016, as well as a memorable appearance at the Guimarães Jazz Festival back in 2006.
