Written by: Badr Ahmed

The family of renowned South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, known internationally by his stage name Dollar Brand, announced his death at the age of 91, after an artistic career spanning more than seven decades, during which he left a prominent mark on the world of jazz music worldwide.

The family said in a statement released on Monday that Ibrahim died peacefully in Germany after a short illness, surrounded by his family and loved ones, noting that his death represents a great loss to art and culture in South Africa and the world.

Death of South African jazz legend Abdullah Ibrahim

Abdullah Ibrahim was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and from his early days he emerged as one of the most important pianists, composers and bandleaders in the African continent, where he was able to combine international jazz music with South African musical rhythms and traditions, which gave him a unique artistic identity and made him a cultural ambassador for his country.

During his long artistic career, Ibrahim gained widespread international fame and participated in many major international events. His name is also historically linked to his participation in the inauguration ceremony of the late leader Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa in 1994, an event that cemented his status as one of the symbols of art associated with the struggle against the apartheid regime.

His last concert was in South Africa during the Cape Town International Jazz Festival last March, where he gave a performance that received widespread acclaim from the public and critics, who considered that he continued to be creative until the last moments of his artistic career.

His family praised his humanitarian and artistic legacy, stressing that he passed away with a heart attached to South Africa and its people, while officials and public figures said that his music will remain present and influential in the global cultural memory.

For his part, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa mourned the late artist, noting that he was a global icon and a citizen who embodied the spirit of South Africa, and contributed through his art to supporting the values of freedom and opposing racial discrimination, stressing that his creations will remain part of the country’s cultural heritage.

Official and local figures in Cape Town also praised his artistic legacy, considering that his music reflected the diversity and cultural and historical richness of South Africa.

The late artist is to be buried in the German state of Bavaria, where he lived in the last years of his life, thus closing the chapter on one of the most prominent figures in jazz music in the world.