Tributes for Rashid Lombard, jazz visionary and acclaimed photographer

Condolences poured in for acclaimed photographer, cultural activist and jazz visionary Rashid Lombard, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 74, surrounded by his loved ones.

- THEOLIN TEMBO. [e-mail]

In 1997, Rashid founded espAfrika, the events management company behind one of his most enduring legacies — the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), which he launched in 2000 and directed until his retirement in 2014.

After stepping away from the festival, Rashid took over the digitisation of his archives, a task previously managed by his wife, Colleen.

President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute to Lombard, saying that the country has 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 CTIJF through which he bolstered South Africa’s integration into global culture and linked this prestigious event to the development of historically disadvantaged communities,” Ramaphosa said.

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said during her time as the Mayor of Cape Town, she had the privilege of working alongside him.

“The CTIJF 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.