By Erin Macleod

It seems odd to introduce a man who should need no introduction. Hugh Ramopolo Masekela, the legendary South African trumpet player, has played just about everywhere with just about everyone.

Born in 1939, he was drawn to the trumpet after seeing the film Young Man With a Horn, and his virtuosity on the instrument quickly became apparent. Before the age of 20, Masekela was touring with Miriam Makeba and playing in the hit musical King Kong.

The Sharpeville Massacre of 1960 drove him to leave South Africa for the U.S., where he would work with Harry Belafonte, Yehudi Menuhin, Paul Simon and the Birds, and score pop-jazz hits of his own. His 1987 single "Bring Him Back Home," in fact, became an anthem for Nelson Mandela's liberation.

As a musician and activist, Masekela played an essential role in the struggle against apartheid. His music sounds of stamina, triumph and excitement, but it's often just plain fun. The Mirror spoke to Masekela about music and Africa.

Mirror: You've said in the past that it was a very odd thing for you to want to play the trumpet as child. What drew you to the instrument?

Hugh Masekela: As a child in 1954, I was given my first trumpet by Archbishop Trover Huddleston when I was invited to join his Huddleston Jazz Band, which was South Africa's first youth orchestra, formed at St. Peters Secondary School where the anti- apartheid priest was chaplain. I was also inspired when I saw the film Young Man With a Horn, which featured Kirk Douglas as the famous American trumpeter Bix Beiderbecke.

Archbishop Huddleston also arranged for me to receive a trumpet from his good friend Louis Armstrong, after he had left South Africa in exile to the U.S. Louis had wanted to deliver the trumpet to the school directly when he was touring in Africa, but was denied the visa to enter South Africa. His trumpet gift did arrive, however, and the photo of us receiving the gift made front page news. So the man himself was not allowed to enter the country, but his trumpet made it on his behalf. That was pretty cool.

STARS IN HIS EARS

M: As a musician who has been active for many years, do you feel connected to con- temporary music? How do you feel about contemporary music in South kwaito, for instance?

HM: At the moment, I am quite excited about our company Chissa Entertainment, which is the first record and entertainment company back home in South Africa that is black-owned and -controlled. We are actively managing and producing a lot of exciting new and traditional South African musicians that otherwise might not be heard. There's this new kwaito singer, Corlea, who is quite strong. Also we are working on a new record with the classical- Afropop diva Sibongile Khumalo, which will be fantastic. So you can see, we are quite active in producing and promoting contemporary South African music. One interesting thing we are doing in winter 2008 is our tour with Hugh Masekela's Chissa All-Stars, which is an all-star ensemble that we are putting together featuring some of the lead performers from back home. That's going to be quite a show.

M: There is a lot of interest these days in African music, scores of compilations of various musics from various countries are being released, Montreal's Festival Nuit d'Afrique is bigger and more popular than ever -- do you think there is a renewed interest in the music of Africa, or do you think this interest has always been there?

HM: I think it has always been there, but struggling to be heard. With so many distractions competing for peoples' attention these TV, Gameboy, movies, Internet -- I am happy to see people coming back around to music and the live shows. I’m happy to hear the Montreal festival is growing, and look forward to seeing you all there!  

AT LA TUUPE ON TUESDAY, JULY 8:30 P.M., $34