In centennial birth year, Kippie Moeketsi stands tall as a jazz genius of apartheid-era South Africa

The cultural icon, active from the 1940s to the 1970s, was born in July 1925.

One of the most influential artists in South Africa’s rich history of jazz is Kippie Moeketsi. He was born on July 27, 1925 and passed away at only 57.

Like Moeketsi, Salim Washington plays the saxophone and composes jazz. As a professor of global jazz studies, he also teaches students about Moeketsi’s work and researches South African jazz.

As part of our coverage of Moeketsi’s centenary we asked him about the music behind the man.

Who was Kippie Moeketsi

Kippie Moeketsi was born Jeremiah Morolong Moeketsi on July 27, 1925. He was a jazz virtuoso, a modernist, and cultural icon from South Africa, active from the 1940s to the 1970s. He was highly regarded among his peers and enjoys the reputation of being a musical genius.

He garnered his reputation early on as a member of the famous South African group, the Manhattan Brothers. He came of age among a coterie of outstanding local artists, including Mackay Davashe, and younger lights such as Dollar Brand (now Abdullah Ibrahim) and Miriam Makeba.

During the early part of his career he was a close associate with fellow musical visionary, pianist, composer and arranger Pat Matshikiza. With him he recorded Tshona and the more experimental Umgababa.

Why is he often compared to Charlie Parker?

Perhaps Moeketsi’s most...

Read more