Hugh Masekela Professions : Trumpeter Born : April 4, 1939 Browse All Authors Top 34 quotes by Hugh Masekela To tell you the truth, man, we spend most of the time travelling in hotels, in festivals, in concert halls, clubs, airports. The most unenjoyable part is all the security at airports. Hugh Masekela airports clubs men I always make the joke that I go home, to one of my homes, to go and do laundry so I can go on the road again. Hugh Masekela laundry goes-on home Whatever you go into, you have to go in there to be the best. There's no formulas. It's all about passion and honesty and hard work. It might look glamorous, but it takes a lot of hard work. The blessing with the arts is that you can do it forever. Hugh Masekela best hard-work blessing work If I don't make heritage visible and the strength of mother tongue important for my grandchildren, it scares me that they might say in 20 years from now, 'Well, it is rumoured that we used to be Africans long ago.' And in many urban areas, it's already happening. Hugh Masekela me strength mother long The thing that is being lost is heritage. In Africa, religion and advertisement and television and media hype have gotten Africans to where they are convinced psychologically that their own heritage is heathen, pagan, barbaric, savage, primitive. Hugh Masekela heritage media television religion Once in a while, I treat myself to a cheesecake or carrot cake. Hugh Masekela treat myself cheesecake cake What people don't know about oppression is that the oppressor works much harder. You always grew up being told you were not smart enough or not fast enough, but we all lived from the time we were children to beat the system. Hugh Masekela you time children people I think the most difficult thing that has had to happen in South Africa for the previously disadvantaged communities is they had to reconcile that the oppressor has been enriched and the establishment is now making five or 10 times more profit than they were during the time the economic embargo was on them. Hugh Masekela africa think difficult time I don't criticise anybody, but I just don't understand religion. Like I don't understand nationalism. These are the two things that cause wars. I don't understand why they are supposed to be good things. Hugh Masekela good understand good-things religion I have a major respect for nature. I'm an environmentalist. Hugh Masekela major environmentalist respect nature I've got to where am in life not because of something I brought to the world but through something I found - the wealth of African culture. Hugh Masekela wealth life culture world Twenty years ago, I was part of a movement of millions of people who were going after freedom. But today, they look and they say, 'What are the advantages of freedom?' So far, it's the vote and maybe, in certain places, lack of police harassment. You can live anywhere you want and do anything you want - if you have the means. Hugh Masekela you freedom today people I don't think anybody has ever been able to live up to what they promised. I don't know a government that has ever been successful at that because once they get into power, things change and the world is controlled also by business now. Hugh Masekela government business change power When I left South Africa there were 10 million people - when I came back there were more than 40 million. I had to learn how to get to the highways because when I left where there were no highways. Hugh Masekela africa more back people Similar Authors Booker Little trumpeter Arturo Sandoval trumpeter Al Hirt trumpeter Don Ellis trumpeter Doc Severinsen trumpeter Herb Pomeroy trumpeter All Authors