R.I.P. Lucky Dube

Last Thursday, Lucky Dube's luck ran out. The South African reggae star was shot dead in a botched carjacking attempt in Johannesburg. Currently, there was no other motive for the killing beyond the carjacking, which was unsuccessful. South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, has appointed a special task force to search...

By Jonathan Cunningham

October 20, 2007

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Last Thursday, Lucky Dube's luck ran out.

The South African reggae star was shot dead in a botched carjacking attempt in Johannesburg. Currently, there was no other motive for the killing beyond the carjacking, which was unsuccessful. South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, has appointed a special task force to search for the assailants, but the latest killing just underscores how out of control South African violence is on a daily basis.

Dube (pronounced Doo-Bay) was the first South African reggae star to make an international impact. He recorded 22 albums over his long career including Rasta Never Die, and Slave, his biggest selling album to date. He's recorded with Seal and Peter Gabriel, and was the first South African to perform at Jamaica's Reggae Sunsplash in 1991.

Dube was just 43 years old and is survived by his wife and seven children.

If you're not familiar with his songs and the magnitude of his star power in South Africa, here's a video for, "Back to My Roots," one of Dube's most popular songs performed in his homeland.

R.I.P. Lucky

-Jonathan Cunningham

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