Mandela was chosen as a symbol of the South African struggle, and he did that great. But I wasn’t just happy for him. I was happy for the people. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
Twenty years ago, I was part of a movement of millions of people who were going after freedom. But today, they look and they say, ‘What are the advantages of freedom?’ So far, it’s the vote and maybe, in certain places, lack of police harassment. You can live anywhere you want and do anything you want – if you have the means. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
If I don’t make heritage visible and the strength of mother tongue important for my grandchildren, it scares me that they might say in 20 years from now, ‘Well, it is rumoured that we used to be Africans long ago.’ And in many urban areas, it’s already happening. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
The apartheid people were actors, and they had to act out their part in their beliefs every day. That’s why we always saw them as being comedic. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
In some townships, political parties are run by thugs financed from Cape Town. If we don’t have support of the police, we can not have the ability to organize and to gain even a slight semblance of power. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
I want to see Nelson walking down the streets of South Africa; I want to see him walking hand-in-hand with Winnie Mandela. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
I started playing the piano when I was 6 years old ’cause my folks tried to get me away from the gramophone. And I just – I lived for music since I could think. And they got me piano lessons. So by the time I was 13, I was quite an accomplished piano player and musician. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
