Family, friends, and musicians gathered in Cape Town yesterday to honour the legacy of Rashid Lombard, the late jazz organiser and activist.
Image: Ian Landsberg/Independent Newspapers
Family, friends, musicians, and political figures gathered at the Cape Town home of the late jazz organiser, photographer, and activist Rashid Lombard on Thursday, to celebrate his remarkable life and enduring legacy.
The 74-year-old, whose name became synonymous with South African jazz and cultural resistance, passed away on Wednesday.
His funeral drew mourners from across the country and beyond, including celebrated musicians, community leaders, fellow activists, and ordinary Capetonians who had been touched by his work.
Attendees shared stories, music, and laughter in tribute to a man many described as a visionary, a comrade, and a cultural custodian.
Liya Williams, granddaughter of jazz impresario and well-known photographer Rashid Lombard, rests her head on his body before his burial according to Muslim rites.
Image: Ian Landsberg / Independent Media
Shadley Lombard, Lombard’s son, said the outpouring of love and support was overwhelming and deeply comforting.
“He was more of a father and mentor to other people than to his children,” Shadley said.
“And we’re okay with that, because what he did inspired people, motivated young people. That was his calling, and we fully understand that. When you look at the turnout and the support from across the world, even from the president of South Africa, it speaks volumes.”
Father Michael Weeder, a long-time friend, spoke warmly of Lombard’s authenticity and passion.
“There was nothing superficial about the way he was present, in person or online,” he said.
“Over time, he became a friend. We had comrades in common. And when we say ‘comrade’, we don’t mean it in the casual way people do today. Back then, a comrade was someone you trusted with your life. We trusted Rashid.”
Among those who benefitted directly from Lombard’s vision was entertainer Alistair Izobell, who described the late cultural organiser as one of the most inspiring people he’d ever met.
“His message to us was always the same: dream. Because those dreams can move you beyond your limitations,” said Izobell.
Mujahid George, actor and broadcaster, said he owed his introduction to the world of jazz to Lombard.
Lombard was born in North End, Gqeberha, in 1951 and moved to Cape Town as a young boy.
Trained as an architectural draughtsman, he turned to photography in the 1970s, becoming one of South Africa’s most respected news and documentary photographers.
He documented key moments in the anti-apartheid struggle before turning his attention to cultural activism, particularly jazz.
Faiez Jacobs, former ANC MP, reflected on Lombard’s dual commitment to art and politics.
“He was one of us — an activist, a cultural warrior, and a storyteller,” said Jacobs.
Even in his final years, Lombard remained a beloved figure across generational and cultural lines.
Friend and photographer Fanie Jason recalled a picture that Rashid captured.
“I remember when he was the only photographer to take pictures of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Gugulethu, it was a funeral, when the archbishop left, a teargas was thrown at him.”
Lombard is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, as well as a vast network of comrades, colleagues, and admirers. His funeral was not just a farewell, but a celebration of music, of activism, and a life lived in full service of culture, community, and justice.
Cape Argus