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Abdullah Ibrahim Dies at 91

The family announced burial plans in Bavaria and said his music will continue to carry South Africa’s sound to audiences around the world.

Overview

  • Ibrahim’s family confirmed he died in Germany after a short illness and said he was 91 at the time of his death.
  • The family said he will be buried in the Bavaria region of Germany and that his partner, Dr Marina Umari, noted he passed with South Africa in his heart.
  • His last South African performance took place at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in March, reflecting ongoing public appearances late in his life.
  • Over a seven-decade career, Ibrahim fused South African musical elements with jazz, wrote the 1974 anthem “Mannenberg,” and influenced generations of musicians worldwide.
  • His record of more than 70 albums, international awards and a jazz school leave a body of work that the family and the global jazz community say will continue to inspire audiences and artists.