The sculpture commemorates one of South Africa’s greatest jazz musicians — saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi. Born in George in 1925, Moeketsi was most famously a member of the Jazz Epistles, together with three other giants of South African jazz: Dollar Brand/Abdullah Ibrahim, Hugh Masekela and Jonas Gwangwa.In contrast to many of his contemporaries, he remained in South Africa during the height of apartheid repression, and died penniless in 1983 after a long struggle with alcohol abuse. The location of the sculpture is in front of what used to be a jazz club, built in 1987 by the Market Theatre and funded by Mining Conglomerate Clive Mennel (a jazz-lover).
Bronze cast sculpture depicting a seated Moeketsi who is holding a saxophone in his right hand, sitting next to an empty chair.
This representation of the seated Moeketsi next to an empty chair is a subtle reference to the loneliness and depression that characterised the latter years of Moeketsi’s life. The additional chair now functions as an invitation to passers-by to seemingly keep the spirit of the deceased saxophonist company.
The sculpture commemorates one of South Africa’s greatest jazz musicians — saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi. Born in George in 1925, Moeketsi was most famously a member of the Jazz Epistles, together with three other giants of South African jazz: Dollar Brand/Abdullah Ibrahim, Hugh Masekela and Jonas Gwangwa.In contrast to many of his contemporaries, he remained in South Africa during the height of apartheid repression, and died penniless in 1983 after a long struggle with alcohol abuse. The location of the sculpture is in front of what used to be a jazz club, built in 1987 by the Market Theatre and funded by Mining Conglomerate Clive Mennel (a jazz-lover).
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