The South Africa musical world was in mourning Thursday after the murder of "reggae king" Lucky Dube, who was shot dead in an attempted carjacking in Johannesburg.

The murder was carried out by two or three youths who seemingly gave no warning and made no demands. Dube tried to drive away, but lost control of his grey Chrysler and crashed into a tree.

His son, who had just got out of the car, ran for help. His 16-year old daughter, who was also in the vehicle, was unharmed.

The poet and fellow musician, Mzwakhe Mbuli, who was present at the scene of the killing, was distraught: "Shattered, shattered, seeing Lucky Dube's lifeless body was something else. Lucky is gone, someone who was not sick, who was healthy is gone. People used a finger to pull a trigger to just blow his life away in front of his children.

We are meant to be marketing the country for [the World Cup in] 2010. What is this, what are we saying?"

Dube's killing follows the murder in downtown Johannesburg of the famous bass guitarist, Gito Baloi. He was killed in similar circumstances in April 2004. The killers took Baloi's wallet after shooting him through the window of his car.

The head of the Gallo music group, Ivor Haarburger, was among the first to pay tribute to Dube. Describing the murdered star as the best reggae performer in the world, he said Dube was even more famous internationally than in South Africa. "He was huge," said Mr Haarburger. "He could draw 40,000 to 50,000 to a concert."

Aged 43, Dube was born in a township outside the small mining town of Ermelo. He was named "Lucky" because he was considered fortunate to have survived ill heath as a child.

He started his musical career as a traditional musician in 1979 and switched to reggae in 1984, cutting more than 20 albums and winning numerous musical awards.

South Africa is considered the murder capital of the world, with some 20,000 murders committed each year nationwide, and the centre of Johannesburg is probably the most dangerous part of the country.

Stunned fans crowded South Africa's airwaves on chat shows to express their grief and anger, and issue demands for the restoration of the death penalty.

Source: Guardian

Lucky Dube - a brief biography

	Lucky Dube: A hero who died too young.

Lucky Dube is the son of a single mother who thought she could not have children. Her first child therefore was given the name "Lucky". Dube (pronounced "Dobe") is a town area in Johannesburg.

Lucky Dube had a tough upbringing and lived in turn, with his mother, grandmother, and an uncle. He began to sing in bars in his hometown and in church. He and his comrades began drumming around and started a band, but they couldn't afford to buy instruments. They tried to persuade moneyed people to sponsor them but, when they were unsuccessful, Lucky Dube wrote a play that the guys performed. This brought in just enough to purchase a guitar, and they started the Skyway band. They began by playing mbaqanga. They were together for 2 years before Lucky Dube joined the Love Brothers, a mbaqanga band led by Richard Siluma, who later became Lucky's manager.

After a few years as a mbaqanga singer Lucky decided, in the early 1980s, to switch to reggae. The influence came from artists like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

He had his baptism of fire as a reggae artist when he played at the Sunsplash Festival in Jamaica, before the world's most critical reggae audiences, and was a success.

Lucky Dube makes a type of melodious, African reggae that slowly but surely has turned him into a superstar.
He sings powerfully in English about social problems, the blacks' struggle, and God's greatness.

With the song, "Together As One", he became the first black artist in South Africa to be played on a white radio station.
He has had no formal musical education, but nevertheless plays several instruments and arranges his own songs. His first two albums, “Slave” (about alcoholism) and “Prisoner”, both sold over 500,000 copies and are the best selling disks ever in South Africa.

Today Lucky Dube is one of Africa's most sought after artists and tours the world over.

Source: leopardmannen