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Abdullah Ibrahim

Composer / Pianist | * 10/09/1934 (89) | Cape Town (South Africa)
Abdullah Ibrahim (born Adolph Johannes Brand on 9 October 1934 and formerly known as Dollar Brand) is a South African pianist and composer. His music reflects many of the musical influences of his childhood in the multicultural port areas of Cape Town, ranging from traditional African songs to the gospel of the AME Church and Ragas, to more modern jazz and other Western styles. Ibrahim is considered the leading figure in the subgenre of Cape jazz. Within jazz, his music particularly reflects the influence of Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington. He is known especially for "Mannenberg", a jazz piece that became a notable anti-apartheid anthem. During the apartheid era in the 1960s, Ibrahim moved to New York City and, apart from a brief return to South Africa in the 1970s, remained in exile until the early 1990s. Over the decades, he has toured the world extensively, appearing at major venues either as a solo artist or playing with other renowned musicians, including Max Roach, Carlos Ward and Randy Weston, as well as collaborating with classical orchestras in Europe. With his wife, the jazz singer Sathima Bea Benjamin, Ibrahim is father to the New York underground rapper Jean Grae, as well as to a son, Tsakwe. ()
Photo of Abdullah Ibrahim
Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Documentaries | History

Known for these Movies & Shows

Awards & Nominations for Abdullah Ibrahim

NEA Jazz Masters
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Movies with Abdullah Ibrahim as Actor(3)

as Self - Musician (archive footage)2019 Africa Rising
as himself2003 Sophiatown

Movies with Abdullah Ibrahim as Crew(4)

Sound/Original Music Composer1990 The Law
Sound/Original Music Composer1990 No Fear, No Die
Sound/Original Music Composer1988 Chocolat
Sound/Music1983 System Without Shadow

Additional Information

Official websites:
Full Name: Adolph Johannes Brand
Citizenship: South Africa
Born: Tuesday, 10/09 1934 (October) in Cape Town (South Africa) (current age: 89 years + 172 days)
Zodiac sign: Libra (Chinese zodiac sign: Dog)
Languages: Afrikaans (AF), English (EN)
Educated at: Trafalgar High School
Record Label: Enja Records
Spouses (current/former): Sathima Bea Benjamin
Children: Jean Grae
Other names for Abdullah Ibrahim (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Adolph Johannes Brand"
"Dollar Brand" (Pseudonym)
Abdullah Ibrahim frequently works together with these people:
Claire Denis (4x, Crew)
Nelson Mandela (3x, Actor)
Lee Hirsch (3x, Crew)
Pascale Lamche (3x, Crew)
Isaach De Bankolé (2x, Actor)
Rudolf Thome (2x, Crew)
Conrad Kuhne (2x, Crew)
Jean-Pol Fargeau (2x, Crew)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:713277, Added: 10/31/2018, Last updated: 03/13/2024