Abdullah Ibrahim, Eminent South African Jazz Pianist, Dies at 91
His song “Mannenberg” became the unofficial anthem of the country’s fight against apartheid, with Nelson Mandela calling him “our Mozart.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/a...
So sad to learn of the death of the great Abdullah Ibrahim, such a brilliant politically committed musician. For me, his music conjures Melbourne in the late 1970s, early 1980s, strangely. A sound track to those times for some of us.
He died on the eve of the Soweto Uprising’s 50th anniversary
“After the Soweto uprising in 1976, Mr. Ibrahim fled the country, publicly declared his support for the African National Congress and began participating in benefit concerts, vowing not to return until democratic rule was established.”
Note to NYT: Mr. Ibrahim's child, Tsidi Ibrahim, identifies as nonbinary (she/they) and no longer classifies themselves as a "rapper." www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/a...
Loved his album Water from an Ancient Well, and many more
Abdullah Ibrahim, Eminent South African Jazz Pianist, Dies at 91 www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/a...
#AbdullahIbrahim, fka #DollarBrand, "jazz pianist & composer …mingled the sounds of his native Cape Town w/ musical traditions from around the world…"
"He listened to #VoiceOfAmerica broadcasts that carried the sounds of jazz" during WW2
#Jazz #Music
🎁 www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/a...
"For all its disparate components, Mr. Ibrahim’s music never sounded like a crude synthesis — perhaps by dint of the unhurried grace of his playing and the deep spirituality of his approach. 'Improvisation is really becoming one with nature. One with our real self.'" www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/a...
Such beautiful, rooted music. The feelings he could express and make me feel with his compositions and playing...so good. RIP Maestro. (Gift link so you can learn about him) www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/a...
