I first heard of Lucky Dube while on a surfing safari in Costa Rica with 3 of my best friends. We were sitting in a brazillian-run cafe overlooking the ocean outside of a secret spot on the pacific coast. And in the background I heard the cry of love pouring forth from what seemed like the ocean break as the tide moved in and back out. The more I listened to Lucky's music over the years, the more I fell in love with him. Not only because of his gift as a musician, but his acceptance as a love prohet in the world.
Lucky was born in Ermelo, formerly of the Eastern Transvaal, now of Mpumalanga, on August 3, 1964. His parents separated before his birth and he was raised by his mother, Sarah, who named him because she considered his birth fortunate after a number of failed pregnancies. Along with his two siblings, Thandi and Patrick, Dube spent much of his childhood with his grandmother, while his mother relocated to work. In a 1999 interview he described his grandmother as "his greatest love" who "multiplied many things to bring up this responsible individual that I am today."
As a child Dube worked as a gardener but, realizing that he wasn't earning enough to feed his family, he began to attend school. There he joined a choir and, with some friends, formed his first musical ensemble, called The Skyway Band. While at school he discovered the Rastafari movement. At the age of 18 Dube joined his cousin's band, The Love Brothers, playing Zulu pop music known as mbaqanga whilst funding his lifestyle by working for Hole and Cooke as a security guard at the car auctions in Midrand. The band signed with Teal Record Company, under Richard Siluma (Teal was later incorporated into Gallo Record Company). Though Dube was still at school, the band recorded material in Johannesburg during his school holidays. The resultant album was released under the name Lucky Dube and the Supersoul. The second album was released soon afterwards, and this time Dube wrote some of the lyrics in addition to singing. It was aroung this same time when he began to learn English.
Lucky was tragically shot in South Africa in Obtober 2008. We miss him but his powerful love and spirit live on in many others around the world.
