Latest news with #NorthSeaJazzFestival
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Ramaphosa mourns passing of photographer Rashid Lombard
Lombard documented pivotal moments in the country struggle for freedom, including the release of late former president Nelson Mandela in 1990. President Cyril Ramaphosa has described renowned South African photographer and jazz promoter Rashid Lombard as a cultural icon who not only documented South Africa's history of struggle for freedom but also made history in his own right. The president expressed his deep sadness at the passing of Lombard, who passed away at the age of 74. Lombard was an esteemed member of the National Order of Ikhamanga (Silver), which he received in 2014 for his excellent contribution to arts and culture and his dedication to promoting jazz music that has put South Africa on the map for many jazz enthusiasts around the world. 'Fearless' Ramaphosa offered his heartfelt condolences to the Lombard family and his wide network of friends, comrades, and creatives, both nationally and internationally. 'Rashid Lombard's fearless depiction of apartheid's endemic inhumanity and violence and his compassionate focus on the lives of oppressed communities and disadvantaged individuals is a powerful record of our struggle for basic human rights and dignity. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa pays tribute to anti-apartheid activist and writer Breyten Breytenbach 'His creative and entrepreneurial ability gave rise to his establishment of the Cape Town Jazz Festival, through which he bolstered South Africa's integration into global culture and linked this prestigious event to the development of historically disadvantaged communities,' Ramaphosa said. 'Diversity and vibrancy' Ramaphosa added that Lombard achieved a remarkable feat with his love for the 'diversity and vibrancy of our nation.' 'He did so with passion and humility that endeared him to everyone with whom he interacted and whose lives he touched. We reflect on his life with gratitude and with liberation and joy he leaves behind as his legacy'. Lombard was born in Port Elizabeth in 1951 and moved to Cape Town in 1962. He documented pivotal moments in the country's struggle for freedom, including the release of the late former president Nelson Mandela in 1990 and the country's first democratic elections in 1994. Career He has been the organiser behind the positioning of South Africa through the arts in the North Sea Jazz Festival, Cape Town, now known as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival), and was the Festival Director of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Originally qualified as an architectural draughtsman, Lombard transitioned into industrial photography, later becoming a renowned news and documentary photographer, as well as a photographic artist. He built on his creative media career by becoming an influential jazz promoter and founder of the then Cape Town edition of the North Sea Jazz Festival. ALSO READ: Radio legend Darren Scott dies at 61 after battling cancer
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eyewitness News
Late photographer and jazz promoter Rashid Lombard remembered as an icon
CAPE TOWN - Cultural activist and jazz promoter Rashid Lombard has been described as an icon who not only documented South Africa's struggle history but cemented himself as a big player in the country's rich heritage. Lombard died in Cape Town on Wednesday, surrounded by his loved ones at the age of 74. President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the Lombard family and his extensive network of friends nationally and internationally. He will be buried on Thursday morning, according to Muslim rites. Originally from the Eastern Cape, Lombard was born in North End, Gqeberha on 10 April 1951. At age 11, his family moved to Cape Town, where he would later become respected in media and music circles. Trained as an architectural draftsman and later as an industrial photographer, Lombard began his career with a major construction company. But his political consciousness was later amplified through the influence of the black consciousness movement and he left the corporate world. He went on to work as a freelance photographer and television sound recordist during the height of the anti-apartheid struggle. He worked for a few international media outlets, including Agence France-Presse (AFP), the BBC, and NBC. Over the course of his career, he documented pivotal moments in South Africa's journey to freedom, including the rise of the democratic movement in the 1980s, the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990, and the country's first democratic elections in 1994. But the music was calling and in 1997, Lombard founded espAfrika, the company which steered him to become an influential jazz promoter and founder of the then Cape Town edition of the North Sea Jazz Festival. He was at the helm of the company until his retirement in 2014. His work received widespread acclaim, and he was honoured with numerous awards for both his contributions to news photography and his impact on music and tourism. In 2014, he was awarded the prestigious National Order of Ikhamanga in Silver "for his excellent contribution to arts and culture and his dedication to promoting jazz music that has put South Africa on the map for many jazz enthusiasts around the world". He is survived by his lifelong partner Colleen Lombard, his sister Fazoe Sydow and his children Chevan, Shadley, Yana, Zach, and Daniel, and six grandchildren.
Forbes
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Santana's New Album Quietly Debuts — Despite A Michael Jackson Collaboration
Santana's new compilation Sentient debuts on two charts in the U.K., marking the band's first ... More appearance in years. ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - JULY 12: Carlos Santana performs at day one of the North Sea Jazz Festival at Ahoy on July 12, 2013 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Greetsia Tent/WireImage) Santana has spent decades working tirelessly. Unlike so many other bands that made it bid decades ago, the group continues to produce new music – and in between traditional studio albums, the outfit churns out special releases, live sets, and compilations that appeal largely to its dedicated following. The group, led by guitarist and bandleader Carlos Santana – who lends his name to the band, though the focus has always been on him – has enjoyed multiple eras of massive commercial success. From the psychedelic late '60s to a late-'90s resurgence that featured Grammy wins and chart-topping singles, Santana just keeps going. This week, the band scores another chart win in the United Kingdom, proving that there's still interest in anything connected to the brand. The group's new album Sentient opens on a pair of U.K. rankings, and in nearly identical positions. The collaborative compilation launches at No. 57 on the Official Physical Albums chart. Just one space below that, it begins its run at No. 58 on the Official Albums Sales tally. Both rankings are focused on purchases, though one includes digital downloads while the other sticks exclusively to physical formats. Sentient marks only the fourth time Santana has placed a title on the Official Albums Sales chart, which is somewhat surprising given the band's reputation and massive commercial success throughout the years. The group has fared far better on the Official Physical Albums chart. As Sentient arrives, Santana has now earned 13 entries on that roster. The band hasn't released a project in quite some time, so these new wins mark Santana's first appearance on either of these U.K. charts in nearly four years. The last time the outfit launched something new was back in the fall of 2021, when Blessings and Miracles debuted. That effort performed slightly better than Sentient, managing to break into the top 40 on both sales-focused tallies. The new album was quietly announced back in February on Santana's official website. According to the group, Sentient is described as a retrospective featuring 11 'passion-filled, mesmerizing' cuts. It's a star-studded collaborative release that features lesser-known cuts, high-profile duets, and slightly-altered takes on tunes some fans will already know. Among the collaborators are legendary names like Miles Davis, Smokey Robinson, and Daryl McDaniels (from Run-D.M.C.), as well as the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. That latter cut is a track from Jackson's Invincible album, on which Santana played guitar. The lead single was a reworked version of 'Please Don't Take Your Love Away,' alongside Robinson.
