CAPE TOWN - To the famous bespectacled Greek goddess of a singing star of the Sixties and beyond, Nana Mouskouri, he was “my faithful Youssie.”
That Yusuf Allie should be so endeared in Mouskouri’s autobiography, ‘Memoirs’, is testimony to his passion and skills as an accomplished classical guitarist in her accompanying band, The Athenians.
Not bad for a self-taught guitarist – a boy hailing from the BoKaap area in Cape Town forced to pursue his calling as a musician abroad like many of his compatriots of colour during the height of the apartheid era.
As such Yusuf Allie’s peaceful passing in Langebaan on 19 January 2022 at the age of 86 not surprisingly is deeply mourned by his multitude of family, friends, music fans and of course BoKaapenaars.
Mouskouri’s Twitter post on Wednesday is implicit: ‘RIP Yussi (Yusuf) Allie. South African guitarist who has accompanied #nanamouskouri for far more than 30 years. A very talented musician and loyal friend. Together they have toured the world numerous times.’
Allie’s persona was underpinned by an endearing modesty in a genre sometimes known for its bling and blah blah. But true to form, Allie always used to underplay his achievement and renown.
Lest we forget, Allie followed in the tradition of prominent anti-apartheid activists in the fields of arts, music and sports such as singer Miriam Makeba aka ‘Mama Africa’; jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand); ‘Bra Hugh’ Masekela, whose performing on the trumpet gained global recognition with his distinctive Afro-Jazz sound and hits such as Soweto Blues in 1977. The list is endless.
Allie joins another iconic son of the BoKaap, cricketer Basil “Dolly’ D’Oliveira to seek their fame in “exile”, away from the brutalities of apartheid back home.
They were two of our own – the one always seeking to better his guitar playing skills and the other representing his adopted country England at international level.
Youssie and Dolly came from the opposite ends of BoKaap, the historical enclave to the north of Wale, Church and Longmarket Streets and home to generations of Cape Malays, Indians (mainly Muslims) and Coloureds, symbolised by its colourful houses and Islamic cultural heritage.
Youssie, born in Bo-Kaap to Salie and Hajiera Allie on June 22, 1936, comes from “a highly talented musical family” – one of nine siblings.
He grew up in the Dorp Street area. His father known by his sobriquet, Salie Jack was a well-known wood carver and a
renowned musical coach to Cape Malay Choirs.
Allie’s meeting with British classical guitarist Julian Bream during a tour to Cape Town in the early sixties changed his life and professional trajectory. According to Elspeth Jack, Bream and Allie collaborated in performing Django Reinhardt’s music.
“Bream,” explained Kassiem Adams of CMRM (The Claremont Main Road Masjid) where Yusuf, was a member of the congregation, “recognised the young Yusuf’s talent and arranged a scholarship for him to train with the world renowned Spanish classical guitarist Narcisco Yepes.”
Allie left South Africa in 1965 – a few years before I made my educational trek to the UK. He excelled as a classical and Flamenco guitarist and established an international
career with Nana Mouskouri and her band ‘The Athenians’ which included Costas Trouptsios on bass and vocals; Youssie Allie, classical guitar; Filippos Papatheodorou on piano and guitar, Spiros Livieratos on drums; and Georgios Petsilas on the bouzouki.
According to Adams, he also taught and played with the father of Saudiq Khan, another Cape Town-born renowned Flamenco and classical guitarist. Allie’s achievements have been an inspiration to Khan and other local musicians. In addition, Allie also co-wrote the lyric ‘Before’ with Frank Kinsella for another famous Greek singer, Demis Roussos. Away from the guitar, Allie was not averse to chilling out with the bouzouki with his friend Georgios Petsilas.
Despite this fame, Yusuf never forgot his roots, underpinned by his steadfast piety and spirituality till his end of days. In London, says Kassiem Adams, he quickly integrated with the South African diaspora, especially his fellow Cape Town expats. Indeed, he embarked on performing the Muslim pilgrimage, The Haj, to Makkah in Saudi Arabia from London in 1987. “I have been around the world 15 times (with the singer Nana Mouskouri),” he retorted, “but now I am going to meet my creator.”
Upon his return to Cape Town in 2007 he settled with his son in Claremont for a few years where he remained active in the CMRM community before retiring to Langebaan.
Allie died January 19 and is survived by his widow Bahiya, and his two sons Shaamil and Tariq.
Cape Times