Hugh Masekela Homecoming Concert

South African trumpeter and composer Hugh Masekela spent thirty years away from his homeland in self-imposed exile. When freedom came to South Africa, Hugh returned and played a series of legendary sold out concerts, calling the tour "Sekunjalo - This Is It." The tour lasted for three months, selling out venues of ten to twenty thousand seats. The music Hugh brought back consolidated his position as the planet's most eclectic exponent of "Afro-Soul-Jazz."

During his years away, Masekela had absorbed American jazz, R&B and funk, and woven these sounds together with African polyrhythms. Out of this irresistible groove, Masekela's trumpet solos, peppery and sermonizing with jazzy inflection, rock with the dancing energies of Township jive. On this Homecoming Concert video, shot as Johannesburg's Standard Bank Arena, Hugh is joined by an all-star line-up of South African musicians, including Bayete, Bone and Sankomota.

Maskela expressed his delight in being back in a press release: "Now that there is hope of peace and a new freedom in our land, it is time to exploit our rich cultural heritage in musical expression. It is time to dance, to celebrate."

Mr. Masekela, after a self-imposed thirty year exile, returned to his native South Africa to play a series of sold-out concerts. Mr. Masekela, whose career has spawned the occasional pop hit ("Grazin' in the Grass"), is best known as the leader of one of the best jazz/world music groups around. This concert film was made during his series of concerts at Johannesburg's Standard Bank Arena and captures an emotionally intense and joyous performance from Mr. Masekela and his band, which includes such all-star South African musicians such as Bayete, Bone, and Sakomota.