The Nelson Mandela Foundation is preparing an exhibition on the South African musician Jonas Gwangwa. By Wiliam Ellis
The Nelson Mandela Foundation is preparing an exhibition on the great South African musician Jonas Gwangwa and Amandla which will tour his homeland for a year.
I was honoured to recieve a request for the portrait of Mr Gwangwa in Cape Town 2003 to be included in the presentation.
I was in Cape Town for my first international exhibition hosted by the Cape Town Jazz Festival in a joint show with Jürgen Schadeberg. whose work I have long admired.
My time with Gwangwa, who was once Oscar nominated, was short, for just a few minutes before his concert when we were literally alone backstage. He spoke to me of his long years in exile during the despicable apartheid regime then seemed to leave me to be with his thoughts and memories.
