Today makes it 10 years since we lost the greatest reggae musician africa has ever produced. Lucky Dube was killed in an attempted carjacking in Rosettenville, Johannesburg on the 18 October 2007.
Lucky was dropping off his son at a family member’s house when the incident occurred.
Remembering Lucky Dube: 10 Interesting Facts About Lucky dube
1. His Birth
Lucky Dube was born on 3rd August 1964 on a small farm in Ermelo, in South Africa.
2. His Name
“Lucky Philip Dube” was his real name. Thankful about his birth, his mother named him like that after having lost a baby.
3. His Childhood
Like many other kids in Africa, Lucky often had to work and help support his family instead of going to school. He once worked as a gardener or as a library assistant.
He was partly raised by his granny because as a single mom, his mother was working a lot as well.
4. His Music
He started to make music when he was still a child. He recorded a number of “mbaqanga” albums in the languages of Zulu and Afrikaans before switching to reggae in 1984, inspired by Peter Tosh.
“The holy book tells us the truth will set us free but in this world I know.” Lucky Dube
5. His Career
He was the biggest selling reggae artist of South Africa. His album Prisoner was South Africa’s best selling album of the 1980s/90s and Victims sold over 1 million copies. He won over 20 awards in South Africa and internationally. He was on tour most of his life.
6. His Passion
Throughout Dube’s prolific career, his main pre-occupation, the one thing he longed for more than anything else, was the quest for unity among all South Africans. In an interlude from his Captured Live album (1991), he can be heard speaking in front of a capacity audience: “This song comes deep down from the bottom of my heart, ‘cause it’s a song that talks about the racial discrimination that is happening between blacks and whites.” Dube then carries on to tell the story of the bible – he talks about man being created in the image of god, and how that god has no colour. It’s a bold, but necessary, statement – an indictment of what was then the state of affairs in his country.
7. His Private Life
He and his wife Zanele had seven children. He was a big fan and owner of horses.
8. His Home Country
The Apartheid government came into power in 1948 and officially discriminated the black population until the 1990’s. Around 19’000 murders were registered in South Africa during the year 2008. Most victims are young, black males.
9. His Principles
He strictly refused to smoke ganja, drink alcohol or use any other drug in order to be a good example for his children and the youth. He was a peaceful protester against racial discrimination, war and crime.
10. His Death
Tragedy struck on the 18th of October 2007 when Lucky Dube, the iconic South African reggae star, was dropping his children off in Rosettenville in the south of Johannesburg, he was shot and killed in his car in front of his teenage kids. He was only 43 years old.
Heres another interesting fact about Lucky dube, the three people responsible for his death were caught and jailed for life. When asked why they did what they did, the criminals who killed him said They thought he was a Nigerian.
