When I left South Africa there were 10 million people – when I came back there were more than 40 million. I had to learn how to get to the highways because when I left where there were no highways. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
When I left South Africa in 1960 I was 20 years old. I wanted to try to get an education, and music education was not available for me in South Africa. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
I don’t think what I do is influenced by suffering. I come from a talented people who are prolific in music and dance. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
When people campaign for positions, they promise people all kinds of things. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
I don’t criticise anybody, but I just don’t understand religion. Like I don’t understand nationalism. These are the two things that cause wars. I don’t understand why they are supposed to be good things. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
I couldn’t get away from the gramophone. It was the only thing that I ever really liked, and I was singing along by the time I was five years old – to the Modernaires and Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
Just because Nelson has been released doesn’t mean the government has done us any favors. We have nothing to be grateful for. The government destroyed our country, destroyed our people. If anybody needs amnesty, it is the government. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
I’m very interested in heritage restoration, and I’m working with a group of people to create a number of academies and performance spaces to encourage native arts and crafts and to explore African history. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
I always make the joke that I go home, to one of my homes, to go and do laundry so I can go on the road again. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
To tell you the truth, man, we spend most of the time travelling in hotels, in festivals, in concert halls, clubs, airports. The most unenjoyable part is all the security at airports. Hugh Masekela Read Quote
