Abdullah Ibrahim, the influential South African jazz pianist and composer known for blending Cape Town musical traditions with global jazz influences, died Monday at a hospital in Prien am Chiemsee, Germany. He was 91. His passing was confirmed by his lawyer, Jonas Herbsman. Ibrahim resided in nearby Aschau im Chiemgau.

Born Adolph Johannes Brand on October 9, 1934, in South Africa, Ibrahim rose to prominence on Cape Town’s jazz scene before leaving the country in 1962 amid the increasing violence of apartheid and government repression of musicians. He later adopted the name Abdullah Ibrahim following his conversion to Islam in the late 1960s. Over his career, he became recognized internationally not only for his distinctive, contemplative piano style but also as a cultural ambassador for the anti-apartheid movement.

Ibrahim’s music fused traditional South African sounds with avant-garde jazz, combining influences from Thelonious Monk to American bebop, while maintaining a spiritual and meditative quality that resonated deeply with audiences. His compositions, such as “Mannenberg,” “The Mountain,” and “The Wedding,” gained widespread acclaim and became emblematic of South African identity and resistance. “Mannenberg,” named after a Cape Flats township housing many displaced residents, is often cited as a defining anthem of his homeland’s struggle.

By age 15, Ibrahim was already performing publicly, initially as a vocalist and then as a pianist in big bands. His early exposure to jazz was largely shaped by broadcasts and interaction with American soldiers during World War II, earning him the nickname “Dollar” from the soldiers. In 1958, he formed the Dollar Brand Trio, which later recorded “Duke Ellington Presents the Dollar Brand Trio” in 1964 after catching the attention of Duke Ellington during a European tour.

Following his emigration from South Africa, Ibrahim lived and worked in Europe and the United States, collaborating with leading figures of the jazz avant-garde, including Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, and Archie Shepp. His prolific recording output spans over 70 albums, with highlights such as “African Space Program” (1973), “Banyana” (1976), “African Marketplace” (1980), and “Water from an Ancient Well” (1986).

After apartheid’s end, Ibrahim returned to perform in South Africa and in 1994 played at Nelson Mandela’s presidential inauguration, where Mandela lauded him as “our Mozart.” He split his later years among homes in Cape Town, New York, and Germany. In 2019, he was honored as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ibrahim’s early life was marked by personal hardship. His biological father, a Sotho house painter, was killed when Ibrahim was a child, a tragedy concealed from him for many years. Raised by his grandmother, whom he originally believed to be his mother, he was deeply affected by the limitations imposed by apartheid on spiritual and cultural expression.

Ibrahim is survived by his partner, Marina Umari; his son Tsakwe, a pianist and guitarist; and daughter Tsidi, a rapper known professionally as Jean Grae. His former marriage to singer Sathima Bea Benjamin ended in divorce. Abdullah Ibrahim’s enduring legacy lies in his pioneering role as a musician who bridged diverse musical languages while amplifying the cultural and political voice of South Africa.