Winston Mankunku Ngozi

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Winston Monwabisi "Mankunku" Ngozi (1943 – 13 October 2009) was a famous South African tenor saxophone player.[1]

Early life[]

He was born in Retreat, Western Cape, in 1943, the first child in a musical family. He played piano at the age of seven, and later clarinet and trumpet. In his mid-teens he learned the alto and tenor saxophone. He cites John Coltrane, local saxophonist "Cups & Saucers", pianist Merton Barrow, as well as bassist Midge Pike as major influences.[1]

Career[]

Mankunku chose to remain in his native Cape Town during apartheid. This meant that he was subjected to the Separate Amenities Act and similar apartheid legislation. A classic tale tells of his performance with an all-white big band in the Cape Town City Hall in 1964, where, because a mixed-race band was unlawful, he was forced to play behind a curtain so as to remain out of sight.[1][2]

In 1968 he recorded the famous blockbuster "Yakhal' Inkomo", with , and . It won him the Castle Lager "Jazz Musician of the Year" award for 1968. Another colleague was Abdullah Ibrahim.

Death[]

He died on 13 October 2009 after a long struggle with illness.[3]

Discography[]

  • Yakhal’ Inkomo (1968, with Lionel Pillay, Agrippa Magwaza, Early Mabuza)
  • The Bull and The Lion (1976, with Mike Makhalemele, Trevor Rabin, Ronnie Robot and Neil Cloud)
  • Winston Mankunku & Mike Perry Jika (1987, with Richard Pickett, Mike Campbell, Bheki Mseleku, Russell Herman, Claude Deppa, Lucky Ranku)
  • Winston Mankunku & Mike Perry Dudula (1996, with Spencer Mbadu, Richard Pickett, Errol Dyers, Charles Lazar, Buddy Wells, Marcus Wyatt, Graham Beyer, The Merton Barrow String Quintet)
  • Molo Africa (1997–1998, with Feya Faku, Tete Mbambisa, Errol Dyers, Basil Moses, Lionel Beukes and Vusi Khumalo)
  • Abantwana be Afrika (2003, with Andile Yenana, Herbie Tsoaeli, Prince Lengoasa and Lulu Gontsana)

External links[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ngozi, Winston Monwabisi 'Mankunku' (South Africa)", music.org.za.
  2. ^ Winston Monwabisi Mankunku Ngozi smooth-jazz.de
  3. ^ Statement by Patrick Craven, Congress of South African Trade Unions spokesperson, on Winston Ngozi Cosatu
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