Cape Town, South Africa | NOW THEN DIGITAL — South Africa mourns the loss of jazz musician Tony Cedras, who passed away on January 30 due to chronic emphysema. His wife, Tania, confirmed the news, revealing he had been hospitalized in the US for six months before returning last Thursday.
Condolences poured in on social media, with jazz singer Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse expressing heartbreak and Minister Zizi Kodwa praising Cedras as a legendary multi-instrumentalist and freedom fighter.
Born in Cape Town, Cedras showed early interest in music, mastering the harmonium. Encouraged by bassist Paul Abrahams, he joined Pacific Express and played a crucial role in shaping the Cape jazz scene. He later joined Estudio in 1980 and was part of the Medu Arts Ensemble in Botswana during the mid-1980s.
Despite returning to Cape Town in 2013, Cedras continued international tours and released solo albums, including “Vision Over People” (1994), “Love Letter To Cape Town” (2015), and “River Conversations” (2020).
My thoughts are with the family, friends and Comrades of Mr Tony Cedras. A legendary multi-instrumentalist, a veteran of the liberation struggle against apartheid, and a promoter of Khoisan heritage, Mr Cedras fought for our freedom and has done so much to enrich our heritage. pic.twitter.com/nrVB0PfZ6r
— Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture (@zizikodwa) January 31, 2024
