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The Legendary Journey Of Lucky Dube: By Tambaya Julius
Lucky Dube, widely regarded as South Africa’s most successful reggae artist, left an indelible mark on the music industry. With a career spanning decades, he became an international icon by blending powerful messages with captivating rhythms. His extraordinary journey, cut short in 2007, remains an inspiration to music lovers worldwide.
Early Life And Musical Roots
Born Lucky Philip Dube on 3rd August 1964 in Ermelo, South Africa, he was raised by his grandmother alongside two siblings. Despite humble beginnings, Lucky exhibited a passion for music early in life.
He began performing mbaqanga, a traditional South African music genre that fuses Zulu music with jazz and contemporary styles.
In 1981, Dube recorded his first of six mbaqanga albums, quickly establishing himself as a talented artist in this genre. These early works reflected his cultural heritage, offering a vibrant mix of traditional sounds that resonated deeply with local audiences.
Lucky Transition To Reggae
By the mid-1980s, Lucky Dube took a bold step in his career by transitioning to reggae, a genre that would define his legacy.
His first reggae album, Rastas Never Dies (1984), carried a powerful message against South Africa’s apartheid system a policy that enforced racial segregation.
Although the South African government banned the album, its influence couldn’t be silenced. In 1988, his song “Together as One” broke barriers when a white radio station played it, despite the apartheid regime’s restrictions. The song became an international sensation, catapulting Dube into global stardom.
Global Recognition And Success
Lucky Dube’s global appeal soared in the 1990s. His 1993 album Victims sold over one million copies worldwide, solidifying his place among reggae’s greatest. By blending thought-provoking lyrics with irresistible melodies, Dube reached audiences far beyond Africa.
In 1996, he received a prestigious award at the World Music Awards for being the African artist with the highest album sales. He toured extensively during this time, performing alongside renowned artists such as Peter Gabriel, Sinéad O’Connor, Sting, Céline Dion, Maxi Priest, and even Michael Jackson.
His concerts were not just performances but a unifying experience, spreading messages of love, peace, and equality.
Legacy Of Albums And Impact
Lucky Dube’s discography is a testament to his versatility and commitment to addressing social issues. Over his career, he recorded more than 20 albums in Zulu, Afrikaans, and English, appealing to a diverse audience.
His final reggae album, Respect, released in 2006, highlighted themes of dignity, resilience, and hope—values that defined his life and work.
Tragic End Of A Musical Legend
On 18th October 2007, Lucky Dube’s life was tragically cut short when car thieves attempted to steal his vehicle in Rosettenville, Johannesburg.
The incident shocked the world, leaving millions of fans mourning the loss of a man whose music had transcended borders and barriers.
A Lasting Legacy
Lucky Dube’s influence endures, not just as a musician but as a cultural icon who fought against injustice through his art. His songs continue to inspire new generations, reminding us of the power of music to bring about social change.
From his early days performing mbaqanga to becoming a global reggae legend, Lucky Dube remains a symbol of hope, unity, and resilience.
By Our Reporter
The National Productivity Centre, NPC organized the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 2025 Productivity Club Quiz Competition, which brought together students from selected secondary schools in Abuja.
The event, held at the Newton Park hotel, Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja on Thursday, March 6, aimed to test participants’ knowledge on productivity and its concepts.
The competition featured students from eight secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT including: Government Secondary Schools Karu, Wuye, Apo Resettlement, Byazhin, Jabi, and Kurudu; as well as Government Day Secondary Schools Karu and Dutse Alhaji, all in the FCT.
In his opening remarks, the Director-General, Hon. Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi welcomed participants and observers, highlighting the aim of the programme.
Dr. Dan’Agundi said: “This unique programme is targeted at bringing young students together to showcase their knowledge of productivity they have acquired over the years, through the Productivity Coaching and Mentoring (PCM) Programme”.
Explaining further, he added that “Productivity Coaching and Mentoring Programme is an arm of the Productivity Awareness Campaign programme designed to take productivity messages to secondary schools to drive their productivity consciousness and introduce them to basic Productivity improvement tools and techniques, that would guide them on how to improve their productivity in their academic pursuit”.
The Executive Secretary, FCT Secondary Education Board, who was represented by Mr. Henry Sunday Mamman commended the Centre for impacting productivity knowledge to the students. He also encouraged the students to use the knowledge acquired to enhance their overall performance.
After a keenly contested finale, the quiz competition came to a thrilling conclusion with GDSS Dutse Alhaji emerging as the overall winner.
The second and third positions were secured by GSS Karu and GSS Byazhin, respectively.
The event was graced by distinguished guests, including the Director-General, National Productivity Centre, and his team of Directors, as well as Mr. Henry Sunday Mamman, who represented the Executive Secretary of FCT Secondary Education Board.
Hajia Maimuna Musa Adaji, Director/HOD Corporate Affairs and Information, delivered the Vote of Thanks.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday quizzed the immediate-past Minister for Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, for her alleged roles in the misappropriation, violation of procurement process and diversion of public funds of ₦138.4m in the course of disbursing the 2023 budgeted funds for the Ministry.
According to authoritative sources, the ex-minister arrived at the Commission’s headquarters around 11am on Thursday and faced interrogators on her alleged involvement in the fraud.
The sources claimed that investigations by the EFCC showed that funds donated for the funding of P- Bat Cares for Women Initiative were diverted for her self-enrichment.
She reportedly has not been admitted to administrative bail, as the sources added that investigations are still ongoing.
Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was one of the ministers President Bola Tinubu relieved of their duties in October 2024.
She was appointed as the Minister of Women Affairs by Tinubu on August 21, 2023.
A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of an Independent Authority for the registration, regulation, and funding of political parties in Nigeria has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to establish a dispute tribunal and regulate the funding of political parties as well as utilisation of the funds.
The bill, which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, and another lawmaker, Marcus Onobun, further seeks to ensure transparency and a stable democracy.
At the moment, there are 19 registered political parties in Nigeria. The roles to be performed by the new independent authority are currently the responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The independence and neutrality of INEC have been questioned by many including former President Goodluck Jonathan and former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, who decried the influence of political interference on the appointments of electoral commissioners.
“The electoral commission must be fully independent and we must have credible people. Political leaders who are so domineering and over-pressuring you (INEC staffers) to do what is wrong should resign and leave,” Jonathan said at a Yiaga event recently.
Similarly, Jega said, “There is political interference in the appointment or removal of electoral commissioners and other election officials.”
Bishop Isaac Idahosa, the 2023 Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), also lamented that nobody puts INEC in check.
Meanwhile, INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu has been pushing for the creation of an electoral offence tribunal.
“A major obstacle to the speedy dispensation of justice in this regard is that electoral offences are not time-bound as is the case with post-election offences through the tribunals. Furthermore, they are solely prosecuted by the Magistrate and State High Courts in the jurisdiction where the alleged offences are committed.
“No priority attention is given to such cases as the courts deal with a variety of other cases. Consequently, electoral offences are carried over from one General Election to another which may sometimes affect the diligent prosecution of the cases.
“It is therefore imperative to renew our call for the creation of the Electoral Offences Tribunal that has a specific jurisdiction and limited timeframe for the speedy dispensation of cases,” he said.