Tributes pour in for acclaimed photographer and jazz visionary, Rashid Lombard

TRIBUTES poured in following the death of acclaimed photographer and jazz visionary Rashid Lombard at the age of 74. 

He died on Wednesday, surrounded by his loved ones. 

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) was the brainchild of Lombard, who was also a recipient of the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver “for his excellent contribution to arts and culture and his dedication to promoting jazz music that has put South Africa on the map for many jazz enthusiasts around the world”. 

He was a freelance photographer and television sound recordist during the height of the anti-apartheid struggle. 

Lombard's lens captured the unrest and hope of a nation in transition for international media outlets including Agence France-Presse, the BBC, and NBC. 

Over the course of his career, he documented pivotal moments in South Africa’s journey to freedom, including the rise of the democratic movement in the 1980s, the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990, and the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.

With democracy came the opportunity to fully embrace his other great passion - jazz. He served as station manager at Fine Music Radio and later as programming manager at P4 Smooth Jazz Radio. In 1997, Lombard founded espAfrika, the events management company behind the CTIJF, which he launched in 2000 and directed until his retirement in 2014. 

Today, the Sekunjalo Group and the Survé Family, as the owners of espAfrika "remain steadfast in their commitment to honouring the CTIJF’s vision of bringing together jazz lovers and showcasing the rich tapestry of jazz genres from South Africa and around the world," espAfrika said.

After stepping away from the festival, Lombard took over the digitisation of his archives, a task previously managed by his wife Colleen Rayson. He later partnered with the National Archives and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) to make the collection publicly accessible online as a national heritage resource. His daughter will now carry this work forward. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country had lost a "cultural icon who not only documented our history of struggle but made history in his own right".

“Rashid Lombard’s fearless depiction of apartheid’s endemic inhumanity and violence and his compassionate focus on the lives of oppressed communities and disadvantaged individuals is a powerful record of our struggle for basic human rights and dignity.“His creative and entrepreneurial ability gave rise to his establishment of the Cape Town Jazz Festival through which he bolstered South Africa’s integration into global culture and linked this prestige event to the development of historically disadvantaged communities.“Rashid achieved a remarkable feat with his love for the diversity and vibrancy of our nation.“He did so with passion and humility that endeared him to everyone with whom he interacted and whose lives he touched. We reflect on his life with gratitude and with liberation and joy he leaves behind as his legacy," Ramaphosa said.

GOOD Party leader, Patricia De Lille, extended condolences to Lombard's family, friends, and all music lovers.

“During my time as the Mayor of Cape Town, I had the privilege of working alongside Rashid. The Jazz Festival stood out not just as a world-class musical showcase but as an all-inclusive event that actively worked to build a more inclusive city, one that welcomed all, regardless of colour or creed. Beyond the stage, Rashid Lombard was a celebrated photojournalist whose powerful imagery captured the rise of South Africa’s democratic movement and celebrated the vibrant pulse of South African jazz. His extraordinary archive, more than 500 000 film negatives, video and audio recordings, is now preserved at the University of the Western Cape, a treasure trove of memory and meaning. Rashid Lombard’s legacy is one of passion, purpose, and people. We honour his life, his art, and his enduring impact,” De Lille said. 

Ryland Fisher said: “He was much (more) than a comrade, friend and former colleague to me and many others. I regret that we never had that final catchup that we promised each other. Go well, my brother. At least your pain and suffering is over. May your soul rest in peace.”

He is survived by his lifelong-partner Colleen, his sister Fazoe Sydow and his children Chevan, Shadley, Yana, Zach, and Daniel, and his grandchildren Liya, Aydin-Malik, Oliver, Amir Uccio, and Stella Ahed. He will be buried according to Muslim rites on Thursday.

Cape Times