SOUTH AFRICA:South Africa was in mourning yesterday over the murder of much-loved reggae star Lucky Dube - one of Africa's biggest-selling artists - in an apparent botched carjacking.
The 43-year-old musician was gunned down in front of his teenage children in a violent incident that has dampened public spirits as South Africa prepares to take part in the Rugby World Cup final. Calls have been made for the Springboks to wear black arm bands in today's match in memory of the star.
President Thabo Mbeki led tributes for the dead musician, whose music had a strong socially conscious theme, addressing issues like poverty, racism and crime.
Dube had been dropping off his son and daughter in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville on Thursday evening when armed men approached him. He was shot and died at the scene, and the assailants left without taking his car.
Speaking before his departure for Paris, Mr Mbeki expressed concern about what he called the "scourge of crime" in South Africa. "Even as we prepare to celebrate the victory of the Springboks, we must also grieve the death of this outstanding South African and indeed make a commitment that we shall continue to act together as a people to confront this terrible scourge . . . which has taken the lives of too many of our people."
Dube collaborated with international artists like Sinead O'Connor, Peter Gabriel and Sting. But he was best known in Africa for hits like the anti-apartheid anthem Together as One, and Daddy Wherever You Are (Remember Me).
The latter had a special resonance for a continent where many young men grow up not knowing their fathers, according to Antos Stella, former managing director of Dube's record label, Gallo.
"It was the most powerful song," she said. "I remember standing on the stage in Kampala and Lucky went into the intro of that song, and for the first three minutes he could not sing, because everyone knew the lyrics."
The African National Congress said Dube played a valuable role in the freedom struggle, noting "his lyrics were a thorn on the side of the apartheid government." Opposition party Democratic Alliance said the country had been robbed of one of its most "talented and patriotic musical ambassadors", adding that the circumstances surrounding the killing "again illustrate that violent crime in South Africa is out of control".