Winston Mankunku Ngozi
Winston Ngozi Mankunku (1943 - 13 October 2009) was a famous South African tenor sax player. [1]
Early life
He was born in Retreat, Western Cape in 1943, the first-born in a musical family. He played piano at age seven, and later clarinet and trumpet. In his mid-teens he learned the alto and tenor saxophone. He cites John Coltrane, local saxophonist "Cups & Saucers", pianist Merton Barrow, as well as bassist Midge Pike as major influences.[1]
Career
Mankunku chose to remain in his native Cape Town during Apartheid. This meant that he was subjected to the Separate Amenities Act and similar Apartheid legislation. A classic tale tells of his performance with an all-white big band in the Cape Town City Hall in 1964, where, because a mixed-race band was unlawful, he was forced to play behind a curtain so as to remain out of sight. [1][2]
In 1968 he recorded the famous blockbuster, Yakhal'Nkomo, with Early Mabuza, Agrippa Magwaza and Lionel Pillay. It won him the Castle Lager "Jazz Musician of the Year" award for 1968. Another collegue was Abdullar Ibrahim.
Death
He died on 13 October 2009 after a long struggle with illness. [3]