17 June 1953 – 16 July 2019
On a journey to the stars
Far below, we leave forever
Dreams of what we were.
Hamba Kahle
University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa award Doctor of Music (honoris causa) to JOHNNY CLEGG in 2013
Anthropologist, dancer, singer, songwriter and French knight – all of these tags fit but none can fully describe the energetic, passionate human being who has become one of South Africa’s greatest musical exports. With a career spanning over 30 years Johnny Clegg is one of South Africa’s most prolific musicians and performers.
With a critical eye on South Africa’s racial imbalances, he has promoted a unique pride in African heritage in a way that reconciles rather than tears asunder. At the height of apartheid he made possible what seemed impossible: a celebratory ideological and artistic model for tolerance and human brotherhood against the backdrop of South Africa’s divisive racial policies.
While lecturing anthropology at the University of Witwatersrand, Johnny Clegg worked on blending English lyrics and Western melodies with Zulu musical structures. South African musical producer Hilton Rosenthal signed up Clegg and his musical associate and friend, Sipho Mchunu, at a time when there was official prejudice against mixed race groups.
Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu called their band Juluka (“sweat” in isiZulu). Facing censorship from the state broadcaster, the band toured South Africa. Testing the Group Areas Act, they played at universities, church halls, migrant labour hostels and in private houses.
Juluka released their first album, Universal Men, which was a musical journey into the life of a Zulu migrant worker caught between two worlds. A second album, African Litany, followed to critical acclaim, although largely ignored by the state-owned SA Broadcasting Corporation. Their third album, Ubuhle Bemvelo, was recorded entirely in isiZulu. Following the band’s break-up, Johnny Clegg formed Savuka which recorded two best-selling platinum and five gold albums. The band split in 1993 but Mr Clegg continued with a solo career.
Johnny Clegg – who campaigned against the injustices of apartheid and was instrumental in putting the new South Africa on the world map – has performed on all four of Nelson Mandela’s 46664 Aids Awareness Concerts in South Africa and Norway.
In addition to a number of international awards and honorary degrees, Johnny Clegg’s South African awards include the Four Outstanding South Africans Award in 1990; an honorary doctorate from Wits University in 2007; SA Music Association nomination for the Best Live DVD in 2008, and the Order of Ikhamanga in 2012 for his “excellent contribution to and achievement in the field of bridging African traditional music forms, promoting racial understanding … working for a non-racial society and being an outstanding spokesperson for the release of political prisoners”.
For his sensitive and inspiring promotion of South African culture, music and history, both nationally and internationally, and for his success in uniting South Africans and bringing both pride and hope to South Africa, the University of KwaZulu-Natal awards Johnny Clegg its highest honour, the degree of Doctor of Music honoris causa.
LYRICS from Johnny Clegg’s Music
Through all the days that eat away
At every breath that I take
Through all the nights I’ve lain alone
In someone else’s dream, awake
All the words in truth we have spoken
That the wind has blown away
It’s only you that remains with me
Clear as the light of day
O Siyeza, o siyeza , sizofika webaba noma
(we are coming, we are coming, we will arrive soon)
O siyeza, o siyeza, siyagudle lomhlaba
(we are coming, we are coming, we are moving across this earth)
Siyawela lapheshaya lulezontaba ezimnyama
(we are crossing over those dark mountains)
Lapha sobheka phansi konke ukhulupheka
(where we will lay down our troubles)
A punch drunk man in a downtown bar
Takes a beating without making a sound
Through swollen eyes he sways and smiles
‘Cause no one can put him down
Inside of him a boy looks up to his father
For a sign or an approving eye
Oh, it’s funny how those once so close and now gone
Can still so affect our lives
O Siyeza, o siyeza , sizofika webaba noma
(we are coming, we are coming, we will arrive soon)
O siyeza, o siyeza, siyagudle lomhlaba
(we are coming, we are coming, we are moving across this earth)
Siyawela lapheshaya lulezontaba ezimnyama
(we are crossing over those dark mountains)
Lapha sobheka phansi konke ukhulupheka
(where we will lay down our troubles)
Take me now, don’t let go
Hold me close, I’m coming home
O Siyeza, o siyeza , sizofika webaba noma
(we are coming, we are coming, we will arrive soon)
O siyeza, o siyeza, siyagudle lomhlaba
(we are coming, we are coming, we are moving across this earth)
Siyawela lapheshaya lulezontaba ezimnyama
(we are crossing over those dark mountains)
Lapha sobheka phansi konke ukhulupheka
(where we will lay down our troubles)
