A performance art school named after the late Lucky Dube has officially launched to preserve his profound legacy.
This launch took place on 3 August, beautifully coinciding with what would have been his 62nd birthday. Many guests came through, including the Dube family, government officials, teachers, learners, members of the community and representatives from Gallo Music, the label where Lucky was signed.
ART SCHOOL NAMED AFTER LUCKY DUBE IN MPUMALANGA
The Mpumalanga Department of Education has officially unveiled the Lucky Dube Secondary School of Performing Arts in Ermelo, Mpumalanga.
The reggae legend grew up in this area and was tragically murdered in 2007 at the age of 47. In an official statement, the Msukaligwa Local Municipality in Mpumalanga described the school as:
“A school proudly bearing his name, the Lucky Dube Secondary School of Performing Arts stands as a beacon of excellence, creativity, and opportunity, providing young people with a platform to nurture their artistic talents while pursuing academic success.”
“It is a lasting investment in the future of our communities and a testament to the power of collaboration in building a brighter tomorrow.”
The school offers hands-on training not only in creative disciplines such as music, drama, and dance. It also provides technical subjects such as stage lighting, sound engineering, video production, and event production.
‘IT’S A GREAT HONOUR’
According to the SABC, the Dube family embraced the decision to name the school after Lucky despite still grappling with his tragic passing. His son, Thokozani Dube, shared the following:
“It will always be difficult for us to find closure, right? We lost them in a very violent way. And I think some of us were there as well, you know,” he said.
“So, it’s not an easy thing to forget or to let slide. So, I don’t think we’ll ever really truly be over it or find that particular closure. But we keep moving day on day,” he added.
“For us as a family, it’s a great honour that our father, brother, husband, is honoured in this particular way and especially in a community where he was born, in a community where he grew up,” he said.