Tributes pour in for SA trumpeter

Mekoa, who served on the board of the SAMRO Foundation from 1996 to 2011, made a vital contribution to developing young jazz musicians.

SAMRO Foundation managing director André le Roux described Mekoa as a person who was central to the South African music industry. “The SAMRO Foundation has a guiding philosophy of nurturing ‘roots to fruits’ in the music industry, and Johnny was instrumental in planting many of those seedlings that have become robust trees in our jazz music landscape today,” Le Roux said.

“He was the kind of person who always had a warm smile and a word of advice in some of the gatherings we attended. Johnny understood and practiced what was said by Ralph Nader that ‘the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers’. I wish more of our political leaders understood and practiced this philosophy.”

In 2015, Mekoa received the 2015 ACT Lifetime Achievement Award for Arts Advocacy. In honour of his achievements, outgoing CEO of ACT Pieter Jacobs said Mekoa “was highly influential in identifying and developing the musical talent of children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds”.

“As such he has left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape for which we are immensely grateful,” Jacobs said.

Mekoa’s contribution to the music industry earned him fame in the country, prompting South African President Jacob Zuma to confer him with the Order of Ikhamanga in silver. The award is given to South African citizens who have excelled in the arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.

“We have lost a remarkable musician and teacher who contributed immensely to the music sector and selflessly imparted his musical knowledge and skills to aspirant musicians, especially children from poor backgrounds,” Zuma said in a statement.

“May his legacy be an inspiration to others to be selfless teachers in different fields, in order to build a better and prosperous South Africa. We wish to convey our sincere condolences to the Mekoa family and the music industry at large. May his soul rest in peace.”

Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa described Mekoa as one of the country’s most talented musicians.

“We are shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of the trumpet player and head of the Gauteng Music Academy, Johnny Mekoa. The nation has lost one of its most talented and selfless musical sons,” he said.

“Over the years, Mekoa did so much to provide musical skills to talented youth and pursued this calling to teach and impart knowledge with both passion and perseverance. His own contribution to South African music has been immense. From optical dispenser to heading a music academy, he certainly had the vision to look ahead and address the needs of new times.”

Born in 1945, Mekoa was denied the opportunity to study music during the apartheid regime. But this did not dissuade him from becoming a musician. He played his horn in nightclubs despite the difficult and restrictive conditions under which black musicians were forced to operate.

In the late 1980s, while already in his 40s, he quit his job to begin his music studies. In 1991 he graduated from the then University of Natal with a bachelor’s degree in music. He later obtained a scholarship to study his masters in music in the US. Mekoa went on to receive a string of accolades for his contribution to music education and jazz, including various honorary doctorates. He was the first South African to be recognised by the Swedish Jazz Federation for his lifelong contribution to jazz.

Mekoa established the Gauteng Music Academy in 1994. He also served on the UNISA Music Examination Board and helped establish the Standard Bank Youth Jazz Festival.