LUCKY DUBE SHOT DEAD BY ARMED ROBBERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The South African reggae musician, Lucky Dube, has been shot dead in the commercial capital, Johannesburg.

A police spokeswoman said the artist was dropping his son off in the suburb of Rosettenville on Thursday evening when he was attacked by armed robbers.

His son was already out of the car when he saw what happened, and then ran for help, Capt Cheryl Engelbrecht added.

One of South Africa's most popular artists, Lucky Dube toured the world singing about social problems.

Lucky Dube began his career by singing mbaqanga (traditional Zulu) music and recorded his first album with the Super Soul band in 1982.

He later moved into reggae, producing Rastas Never Die and Think About The Children in 1984. His albums, Slave, Prisoner and Together As One saw him gain first national and then global recognition.

Lucky Dube released his 21st and most recent album, Respect, in April.

Police still search for Lucky Dube's killers

South Africa Police are still hunting for the killers of reggae legend Lucky Dube.

A team of detectives has intensified its hunt for Dube's killers in the midst of public outrage.

Gauteng police commissioner Perumal Naidoo has hand-picked a team of investigators to track down the killers, and he says the team will do everything possible to identify and arrest those responsible.

The world acclaimed musician was gunned down by three armed men in Rosettenville on Thursday night, in front of his two teenage children in what was suspected to be a carjacking incident. His attackers left his Chrysler behind and fled in a blue VW Polo.

Meanwhile, his tragic loss is being mourned by the global music community, especially lovers of reggae.

Many on the streets of Accra have voiced out their disgust at the violent end to Lucky's life and urged the South African government to do more in fighting crime.

South African President Thabo Mbeki has meanwhile been reported by the state broadcaster, SABC, as urging South Africans to work together to combat the menace.

Messages of condolences have been pouring in following Lucky Dube's death. Senegalese singer Youssou Ndour has voiced his profound shock at Dube's murder. Ndour says he is concerned about the dangers facing artists in South Africa.

Dube recorded more than 20 albums in a career spanning two decades. During his career Dube performed across the world and shared the stage with the likes of Sinead O' Connor, Peter Gabriel and Sting. British High Commissioner to South Africa Paul Boateng is among fans shocked by Dube's sudden death.

Lucky Dube - a brief biography

Lucky Dube is the son of a single mother who thought she could not have children. Her first child therefore was given the name "Lucky". Dube (pronounced "Dobe") is a town area in Johannesburg.

Lucky Dube had a tough upbringing and lived in turn, with his mother, grandmother, and an uncle. He began to sing in bars in his home town and in church. He and his comrades began drumming around and started a band, but they couldn't afford to buy instruments. They tried to persuade moneyed people to sponsor them but, when they were unsuccessful, Lucky Dube wrote a play that the guys performed. This brought in just enough to purchase a guitar, and they started the Skyway band. They began by playing mbaqanga. They were together for 2 years before Lucky Dube joined the Love Brothers, a mbaqanga band led by Richard Siluma, who later became Lucky's manager.

After a few years as a mbaqanga singer Lucky decided, in the early 1980s, to switch to reggae. The influence came from artists like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

He had his baptism of fire as a reggae artist when he played at the Sunsplash Festival in Jamaica, before the world's most critical reggae audiences, and was a success.

Lucky Dube makes a type of melodious, African reggae that slowly but surely has turned him into a superstar.
He sings powerfully in English about social problems, the blacks' struggle, and God's greatness.

With the song, "Together As One", he became the first black artist in South Africa to be played on a white radio station.
He has had no formal musical education, but nevertheless plays several instruments and arranges his own songs. His first two albums, “Slave” (about alcoholism) and “Prisoner”, both sold over 500,000 copies and are the best selling disks ever in South Africa.

Today Lucky Dube is one of Africa's most sought after artists and tours the world over.