By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-01-17 14:06:50
Andrew Tracey, the son of ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey and father of Geoffrey Tracey, passed away due to a lung infection following an abdominal operation just after Christmas. He was born in Durban on 5 May 1936. Tracey’s impact on the teaching, performance, mentorship, and research of traditional African music profoundly influenced the way it is regarded in the region and around the world.
Following his passing, the music industry, as well as creative and educational institutions, took to social media to convey their condolences. Rhodes University honored Tracey, writing, “Today, we honor the life and legacy of Andrew Tracey, a passionate scholar of African music. His dedication to preserving and promoting African musical traditions has left an indelible mark on the world of ethnomusicology.” Similarly, SWP Records founder Michael Baird described him as a music giant and a family man who took on his father’s legacy and was a friend to many.
The National Arts Festival Makhanda also extended their condolences to the Tracey family, acknowledging the immense role the family, going back to Andrew’s father, Hugh, played in the archiving and promotion of African music. Andrew Tracey, influenced by his father’s pioneering work, studied anthropology, philology, and folk music at Oxford University. When his father passed away in 1977, he took over as the director of the International Library of African Music (ILAM) and was the editor of African Music until 2005. He focused his field research on the playing technique of members of the mbira and xylophone families.
Tracey also made significant contributions to the world of music, co-writing songs for the musical revue, “Wait a Minim!” in the 1960s and founding the Andrew Tracey Steelband in 1969, which performed around South Africa and at festivals until 2007. He also organized ethnomusicology symposiums, introducing African music to many university music departments throughout his career.
Throughout his life, Andrew Tracey dedicated himself to preserving and promoting African musical traditions, leaving behind a lasting legacy. His impact on the music world will be remembered for years to come.
