South Africa: Jazz giant battles prostrate cancer

10 Octobre 2017

Cape Town, South Africa, Octobre 10 (Infosplusgabon) - South African jazz legend, Hugh Masekela, has called for privacy after confirming that he will no longer be performing after being diagnosed with aggressive prostrate cancer.

The trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer and singer has been in treatment for prostate cancer since 2008 when doctors discovered a small “speck” on his bladder. The treatment seemed to be successful, but in March 2016, he had to undergo surgery as the cancer had spread.

In April 2017, while touring Morocco, he fell and injured his shoulder. “I began to feel an imbalance when I was walking and my left eye was troubling me. Another tumour was discovered and subsequently, in September 2017, I had emergency treatment, and the tumour was neutralized,” he said in a statement.

Masekela, who is the father of American television host Sal Masekela, is known for his jazz compositions, as well as for writing well-known anti-apartheid songs such as "Soweto Blues" and "Bring Him Back Home".

Meanwhile, Archbishop Desmond Tutu - another famous South African who is battling prostrate cancer - celebrated his 86th birthday in Cape Town over the weekend.

He attended the unveiling of a monument called “Arch for Arch” in his honour. The large structure is made of bent wood with the 14 “strands” inscribed with excerpts from South Africa's Constitution.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/OLM/GABON 2017

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