Hugh Masekela

Hugh Masekela was a South African trumpeter who spent about 30 years in exile after leaving his home country in 1960, during which time he studied at the Manhattan School of Music and built a career that drew on African township music, jazz, and Afropop. His sound was rooted in the musical traditions of South Africa while absorbing influences from the New York and Los Angeles scenes he moved through. He became one of the most recognizable African musicians of the 20th century, and his work often carried strong political overtones tied to the anti-apartheid struggle.