WATCH: Hugh Masekela remembered at memorial service in Alexandra

Johannesburg – The second of three memorials for Hugh Masekela took place in Alexandra, Johannesburg on Friday where fans, family and industry friends gathered to remember the late icon. 

Many industry greats took to the stage to pay tribute to Hugh including poet Don Mattera and musicians Caiphus Semenya and Jonas Gwangwa. 

“This loss has been so personal for me. I can’t explain it,” an emotional Don Mattera told the crowd before reading something he had prepared for Hugh. 

With many of the artists agreeing that Hugh was a great man, Caiphus Semenya and Jonas Gwangwa shared stories from their special relationships with the jazz legend. “We were 15 years old, Hugh and I. And our friendship started from there,” Caiphus recalled. 

Musical tributes included acts like Prince Lengoasa who was later joined on stage by Mi Casa’s Mo-T, as well as a performance by Thandiswa Mazwai. 

A third and final memorial service for Hugh Masekela will take place on Sunday 28 January at the UJ Soweto campus. Fans can also visit the Hugh Masekela exhibition at Zoo Lake in Johannesburg which was opened to the public from Friday 26 January and will be on display until 1 February.