Julian Bahula
Julian Bahula | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 March 1938 |
| Died | 1 October 2023 (aged 85) South Africa |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer, composer and bandleader |
| Spouse(s) |
Liza Breen (née Carpenter)
(m. 1978; died 2016)Pinky Miles (m. 2018) |
| Awards | Order of Ikhamanga |
Julian Bahula OIG (13 March 1938 – 1 October 2023) was a South African drummer, composer and bandleader, based from 1973 in Britain, where he formed the music ensemble Jabula.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]Sebothane Julian Bahula was born in Eersterust, Pretoria, South Africa. He first gained a reputation as a drummer in the band Malombo.[3] He migrated to England in 1973 and subsequently formed the group Jabula,[4] which in 1977 combined with the group of saxophonist Dudu Pukwana to form Jabula Spear.[2] Another later project for Bahula was the band Jazz Afrika. In the 1980s, Bahula played with Dick Heckstall-Smith's Electric Dream ensemble.
As Eugene Chadbourne of AllMusic has written: "Bahula has been as tireless a promoter of the music of his homeland in his adopted country as he is an on-stage rhythm activator. One of his most important moves was establishing a regular Friday night featuring authentic African bands at the London venue The 100 Club.[5] He booked a lot of musicians who were also political refugees; his series began to symbolize a movement for change. Players such as Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, and Hugh Masekela were among the performers whose early British appearances were organized by Bahula."[3]
With the Anti-Apartheid Movement, Bahula organised in 1983 African Sounds, a concert at Alexandra Palace to mark the 65th birthday of Nelson Mandela, with featured artists including Hugh Masekela, Osibisa and Jazz Afrika,[6] drawing a 3,000-strong audience and raising the international profile of Mandela and other political prisoners.[5]
In 2012, President Jacob Zuma presented Bahula with the Order of Ikhamanga (Gold).[7]
Bahula married twice: Liza Breen (née Carpenter) in 1978; after her death in 2016, he married Pinky Miles in 2018. Bahula died on 1 October 2023, at the age of 85.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Musicians born in March", JazzLife. Archived 17 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ a b "13 March — Julian Bahula", All Jazz Radio. Archived 6 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ a b Chadbourne, Eugene, Julian Bahula biography, AllMusic.
- ^ "Jabula", Strut Records, 21 October 2014. Archived 9 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ a b Macfalanre, Clyde (21 January 2015). "Jabula Happiness: Julian Bahula Interviewed". The Quietus.
- ^ Gooding, Francis (12 October 2023). "Julian Bahula obituary". The Guardian.
- ^ Makhubu, Ntando; Mogomotsi Magome (4 May 2012). "Jazz legend no longer an unsung hero". Pretoria News.
- ^ Luvhengo, Phathu (1 October 2023). "Political activist and musician Julian Sebothane Bahula has died". Timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ "† Julian Bahula ✝️ South African Drummer, Composer And Bandleader 💔 Passed Away At The Age Of 85 🕊️ #JulianBahula #South Africa". Memorial.news. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
External links
[edit]- Julian Bahula biography, Jabula Music
- "Julian Bahula, Malombo and Jabula — Discography", Flatint, 2 November 2011
- Eugene Chadbourne, "Julian Bahula", Allmusic
- "Julian Bahula" at Discogs
- Clyde Macfarlaene, "Jabula Happiness: Julian Bahula Interviewed", The Quietus, 21 January 2015.
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
 | This article about a South African musician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1938 births
- 2023 deaths
- 20th-century drummers
- 20th-century jazz composers
- 20th-century male musicians
- 20th-century South African musicians
- 21st-century male musicians
- 21st-century South African musicians
- Musicians from Pretoria
- Recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga
- South African expatriates in the United Kingdom
- South African jazz drummers
- South African musician stubs