''No Borders'' is the forty-fourth and final studio album by South African jazz trumpeter

Hugh Masekela Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for ...

. The album was released on 11 November 2016 via Universal Music label.

Background

The album takes on a journey through the diverse culture, history, and politics of the African continent. The image on the album sleeve is that of a map of Africa from 1590, long before the modern boundaries were drawn up. The message of this is deliberate and clear: the boundaries between African people are artificial and have been drawn up by the colonial powers. The album is Masekela's first in almost five years, and it features an impressive list of guests, including Zimbabwean artist

Oliver Mtukudzi Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi (22 September 1952 – 23 January 2019) was a Zimbabwean musician, businessman, philanthropist, human rights activist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Southern Africa Region. Career Mtukudzi grew up in Highfield, a ...

in the song "Tapera" that talks about the devastating effects of HIV AIDS in Zimbabwe, and South African Kabomo Vilakazi and Congolese Tresor Riziki in "Congo Women" that is of rumba style, known in the Congolese music as sebene. For ''No Borders'' Masekela recorded a new version of his song "Been Such a Long Time Gone"; its lyrics express the feeling of coming back to Africa from his exile in US. "Makeba" is a tribute song to

Miriam Makeba Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including African popular music, Afropop, jazz, a ...

, who was his wife for two years. "In an Age" is the only song that Masekela recorded with his son, the American TV presenter Sal Masekela aka Alekesam (Masekela spelled backwards).

Reception

Robin Denselow Robin Denselow is a British writer, journalist, and broadcaster. Education Denselow was educated at Leighton Park School, a boys' Quaker boarding independent school (now co-educational) in Reading, Berkshire, followed by New College, Oxford, wher ...

of ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' wrote: "South Africa’s most celebrated musician is 77 but still breaking down musical barriers with a set 'covering most of the international African world'. This is Hugh Masekela’s first album in five years, and the emphasis is on his powerful vocal work as much as his horn playing. There are reminders of his travels to Nigeria and meetings with

Fela Kuti Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), also known as Abami Eda, was a Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He is regarded as the p ...

on Shango, his visits to Kinshasa with Congo Women, while the South African township jive includes a stirring reworking of The Rooster and the gutsy KwaZulu. At almost 80 minutes, it's a long and varied set."

Track listing

References

External links

* {{Authority control 2016 albums Hugh Masekela albums