Dudu Pukwana

Dudu Pukwana – born Mthutuzeli Dudu Pukwana on July 18, 1938 in Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth, South Africa – was a saxophonist and composer. When he was young, he studied the piano but switched to the alto sax in 1956 after an encounter with South African saxophonist Nikele Moyake. Dudu Pukwana won first prize at the Johannesburg Jazz Festival in 1962 with Moyake’s Jazz Giants. He then joined South African pianist Chris McGregor’s Blue Notes sextet, playing alongside Nikele Moyake, Johnny Dyani, Mongezi Feza, and Louis Moholo. In the Blue Notes, Dudu Pukwana was the main composer of the sextet’s repertoire. Because the band was mixed race, it was illegal for them to perform under apartheid’s strict rules. After being harassed by authorities, they decided to relocate to Europe, finally settling in London, England. The Blue Notes broke up during the latter half of the 1960s although Dudu Pukwana stuck with McGregor and joined his big band Brotherhood of Breath. Dudu Pukwana released Kwela, his first album as a leader, in 1967. He then formed two different groups with Mongezi Feza and Louis Moholo: afro rock band Assagai and afro jazz band Spear. He released the Dudu Pukwana and Spear album in 1969 followed by three albums with Assagai: Assagi (1971), Zimbabwe (1972), and Afro Rock Festival (1973). He recorded the popular afro jazz album In the Townships (1973) with Spear. While he continued to record albums through the 1970s and 1980, he also found time to record with Toots and the Maytals, Mike Heron, Centipede, Hugh Masekela, and his former Blue Notes bandmates including Chris McGregor and Johnny Dyani. Dudu Pukwana founded his own label, Jika Records, and formed the band Zila in 1978. The band recorded several albums including Zila Sounds (1981) and Live in Bracknell and Willisau (1983). His final album, Cosmics Chapter 90, was released in 1990. On April 16, 1990, he performed at the Nelson Mandella Tribute in London at Wembley Arena. Dudu Pukwana died of liver failure on June 30, 1990. He was 51 years old.

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