Hugh Masekela’s son Selema opens up about the legend’s addiction and estrangement
Hugh Masekela’s son, Selema Masekela, has opened up about the painful years when his father’s addiction drove them apart, revealing how an extraordinary intervention helped the legendary musician turn his life around.
Selema Masekela, the son of renowned South African musician Hugh Masekela, has revealed details about his father's struggles with addiction and the estrangement that followed. The legendary trumpeter, singer, and composer, who passed away in 2018, battled addiction for years, causing a significant rift between father and son. Selema shared that he distanced himself from his father for five years, believing it would be better to grieve than watch his father's struggle.
Masekela's addiction became so severe that Selema's uncle arranged for him to be taken to London for rehabilitation, despite the father's reluctance to seek help. The rehabilitation ultimately proved to be a turning point in Masekela's life, as he overcame his addiction, though Selema initially felt conflicted when his father succeeded in recovery after having previously experienced it himself.
After years apart, the father and son reconciled in New York, rekindling their relationship as father and son. Selema described his father as his "best friend on earth" and expressed deep gratitude for his father's support in his own career.
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