On Tuesday the 11th of May the South African music industry lost a giant and the world lost a gem of human being in Henry Engelbrecht.
The outpouring of tributes and condolences that followed was akin to the opening of a dozen floodgates, with a few common words as threads running through nearly every one – kind, gentle, humble. Henry really was all of these things and more. He not only embodied them, he practiced them too.
He also never complained and he had the wildest stamina. He was the first up at a festival and the last to bed after photographing almost every act. Through Koppi dust, Up The Creek heat or Mieliepop rain, Henry was basically everywhere. With his trusty camera and a smile for everyone in tow.
But perhaps the most endearing thing about Henry was how much he loved music. Holy shit did he love music. And our scene. And our musicians. He loved Spoegwolf and Adelle Nqeto and Hellcats and Francois Van Coke and Bongeziwe and Satanic Dagga Orgy. He loved rock ‘n’ roll and folk and traditional music and everything in between and this was a love that manifested itself in his art.
One of the last times we spoke was just before he shot his last gig and wrote his last review for TATC – BCUC at Sognage – and I asked him who to speak to about media accreditation. He told me he wasn’t sure because he had bought a ticket to the event. That’s the kind of man that Henry was – supportive to his core.
I don’t think that the full realisation of who and what we’ve lost has hit us yet, but it will. It’ll hit us when events eventually get back on track and we’ll look to the photographer’s pit where his larger than life presence will no longer be seen. But oh, will it be felt.
Rest in power my friend. See you on the other side.
