Sometimes called Le Zoulou Blanc, he is an important figure in South African popular music history, with songs that mix Zulu with English lyrics and African with various Western music styles.
Clegg was born in Bacup, Lancashire, to an English father and a Rhodesian mother. Clegg's mother's family were Jewish immigrants from Poland, and Clegg had a secular Jewish upbringing, learning about the Ten Commandments but refusing to have a bar mitzvah or even associate with other Jewish children at school. His parents divorced when he was still an infant, and he moved with his mother to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and then, at the age of 6, to South Africa, also spending less than a year in Israel during childhood.
As an adolescent in Johannesburg's northern suburbs, he encountered the demi-monde of the city's Zulu migrant workers' music and dance. Under the tutelage of Charlie Mzila, a flat cleaner by day and musician by night, Clegg mastered both the Zulu language and the maskandi guitar and isishameni dance styles of the migrants. Clegg's involvement with black musicians often led to arrests for trespassing on government property and for contravening the Group Areas Act. He was first arrested at the age of 15 for violating apartheid-era laws in South Africa banning people of different races from congregating together after curfew hours. At the age of 17, he met Sipho Mchunu, a Zulu migrant worker with whom he began performing music. The partnership, which they named Johnny & Sipho and then Juluka, was profiled in the 1970s television documentary Beats of the Heart: Rhythm of Resistance.
As a young man, Clegg pursued an academic career for four years, lecturing at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and the University of Natal, and writing several seminal scholarly papers on Zulu music and dance. In the early stages of his musical career, Clegg combined his music with the study of anthropology at Wits, where he was influenced, among others, by the work of David Webster, a social anthropologist who was later assassinated in 1989. He preceded each song with snippets of Zulu culture, information, commentary, humor and personal anecdotes relevant and unique to that song. An engaged social anthropologist, he not only mastered the theories but delved into the culture and disseminated it.
Juluka was an unusual musical partnership for the time in South Africa, with a white man (Clegg) and a black man (Mchunu) performing together. The band, which grew to a six-member group (with three white musicians and three black musicians) by the time it released its first album Universal Men in 1979, faced harassment and censorship, with Clegg later remarking that it was "impossible" to perform in public in South Africa.[9] The group tested the apartheid-era laws, touring and performing in private venues, including universities, churches, hostels, and even private homes in order to attract an audience, as national broadcasters would not play their music. Just as unusually, the band's music combined Zulu, Celtic, and rock elements, with both English and isiZulu lyrics. Those lyrics often contained coded political messages and references to the battle against apartheid, although Clegg has maintained that Juluka was not originally intended to be a political band. "Politics found us," he told The Baltimore Sun in 1996. In a 1989 interview with the Sunday Times, Clegg denied the label of "political activist." "For me a political activist is someone who has committed himself to a particular ideology. I don’t belong to any political party. I stand for human rights."
Juluka's music was both implicitly and explicitly political; not only was the fact of the success of the band (which openly celebrated African culture in a bi-racial band) a thorn in the flesh of a political system based on racial separation, the band also produced some explicitly political songs. For example, the album Work for All (which includes a song with the same title) picked up on South African trade union slogans in the mid-1980s. As a result of their political messages and racial integration, Clegg and other band members were arrested several times and concerts routinely broken up.
Despite being ignored and often harassed by the South African government at home, Juluka were able to tour internationally, playing in Europe, Canada, and the United States, and had two platinum and five gold albums, becoming an international success. The group was disbanded in 1985, when Mchunu returned to his rural home to care for his family.
Together with the black musician and dancer Dudu Zulu, Clegg went on to form his second inter-racial band, Savuka, in 1986, continuing to blend African music with European influences. The group's first album, Third World Child, broke international sales records in several European countries, including France. The band went on to record several more albums, including Heat, Dust and Dreams, which received a Grammy Award nomination. Johnny Clegg and Savuka played both at home and abroad, even though Clegg's refusal to stop performing in apartheid-era South Africa created tensions with the international anti-apartheid movement and led to his expulsion from the British Musicians' Union. In one instance, the band drew such a large crowd in Lyon that Michael Jackson cancelled a concert there, complaining that Clegg and his group had "stolen all his fans". In 1993, the band dissolved after Dudu Zulu was shot and killed while attempting to mediate a taxi war.
Briefly reunited in the mid-1990s, Clegg and Mchunu reformed Juluka, released a new album, and toured throughout the world in 1996 with King Sunny Ade. Since then, Clegg has recorded several solo albums. His touring schedule was abbreviated in 2017 after undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer, and Clegg performed his last scheduled tour date in Maritius in October of 2018. During one concert in 1999, he was joined onstage by South African President Nelson Mandela, who danced as he sang the protest song Savuka had dedicated to him, "Asimbonanga". Asimbonanga became something of an anthem for the Mass Democratic Movement's umbrella organisation, the United Democratic Front. During Mandela's illness and death in 2013, the video of the concert attracted considerable media attention outside South Africa.
His song "Scatterlings of Africa" gave him his only entries in the UK Singles Chart to date, reaching No. 44 in February 1983 with Juluka and 75 in May 1987 as Johnny Clegg and Savuka. The following year the song was featured on the soundtrack to the 1988 Oscar-winning film Rain Man.
His song "Life is a Magic Thing" was featured in Ferngully.
Savuka's song "Dela" was featured on the soundtrack of the 1997 film George of the Jungle and its 2003 sequel, while "Great Heart" was the title song for the 1986 film Jock of the Bushveld. "Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World" was featured in the 1990 film Opportunity Knocks and 1991 film Career Opportunities. "Great Heart" was also the end credits song for the 2000 Disney movie Whispers: An Elephant's Tale. In 2002 Clegg provided several songs and incidental background music for Jane Goodall's "Wild Chimpanzees" DVD. Included in the extras on the disc are rare scenes of Clegg in the recording studio.
Jimmy Buffett recorded "Great Heart" for his 1988 album, Hot Water.
He co-wrote "Diggah Tunnah" with Lebo M. for Disney's 2004 direct-to-video animated film The Lion King 1½.
Clegg was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres (Knight of Arts and Letters) by the French Government in 1991.
In 2004, he was voted 23rd in the SABC3's Great South Africans.
In 2007, Clegg received an honorary doctorate in music from the University of the Witwatersrand.
In 2011, Clegg received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from City University of New York School of Law.
In 2012, Clegg received the Order of Ikhamanga,Silver as part of the National Orders ceremony. This award is the highest honour a citizen can receive in South Africa. It was presented by President Jacob Zuma.
In 2012, Clegg received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
In 2013, Clegg received an honorary Doctorate in Music from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
In 2015, Clegg was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Clegg's son Jesse Clegg is also a recording artist. Displaying a style markedly different from that of his father, in 2008 he released his debut album When I Wake Up. As a rock musician, the younger Clegg has quickly built up a following, with the album being nominated for two South African Music Awards.
Clegg was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015. Clegg died in his Johannesburg home on 16 July 2019.
Bibliography
Clegg, Jonathan (1981). Phil Bonner (ed.). ""Ukubuyisa Isidumbu", "Bringing back the body": An examination of the ideology of vengeance in the Msinga and Mpofana Rural Locations, 1822–1944". Working Papers in Southern African Studies. Johannesburg: Ravan Press. 2.
Clegg, Jonathan (1981). Andrew Tracey (ed.). "The Music of Zulu Immigrant Workers in Johannesburg: A Focus on Concertina and Guitar". Papers presented at the Symposium on Ethnomusicology. Grahamstown: International Library of African Music.
Clegg, Jonathan (1982). Andrew Tracey (ed.). "Towards an understanding of African Dance: The Zulu Isishameni Style". Papers read at Second Symposium on Ethnomusicology, 24–26 September 1981, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. Grahamstown: Institute of Social and Economic Research.
African Sky Blue
Johnny Clegg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
African sky blue, soon a new day will be born
African sky blue
African sky blue, will you bless my life?
African sunshine, soon you will warm your children's eyes
The African river water will dance and leap in your morning light
African sunshine
Oh, will you bless my life?
Oh, will you bless my life?
Oh, will you bless my life?
What can I know?
What can I dream?
What can I hope?
What will the future bring?
You shine through me
But will you see me through?
African sky blue
African thunderstorm, your soldiers march through the air
The African rain will fall and wash away all my tears
African falling rain
African falling rain, will you bless my life?
Oh, will you bless my life?
Oh, will you bless my life?
Oh, will you bless my life?
The warrior's now a worker and his war is underground
With cordite in the darkness, he milks the bleeding veins of gold
When the smoking rock-face murmurs, he always thinks of you
African sky blue
Will you see him through?
"African Sky Blue" by Johnny Clegg & Juluka is a beautiful tribute to the vivid skies of Africa. The lyrics describe the hope and optimism that the people of Africa have in the face of their struggles. They are waiting for the dawn of a new day, for the warm sunshine to touch their faces, for the mighty river to dance in the morning light, and for the thunderous storm to sweep away their tears. The song asks whether the African sky blue will bless the people's lives, and whether it can see them through their challenges.
The lyrics convey a sense of longing for a better future, while acknowledging the difficulties that lie ahead. Africa is a continent with a tumultuous history, marked by colonialism, war, and poverty. However, the people of Africa have always been resilient and optimistic. They believe that the African sky blue has the power to bless their lives and bring them hope. The song is a celebration of this spirit and a reminder that even in the toughest of times, there is always a new dawn on the horizon.
Line by Line Meaning
African sky blue, your children wait for the dawn
The African people eagerly wait for a new day filled with hope and promise.
African sky blue, soon a new day will be born
The sky is a brilliant blue, signaling that a new day, filled with potential and possibility, is about to begin.
African sky blue
The blue African sky represents the vastness of the continent and all that it represents.
African sky blue, will you bless my life?
The artist asks the African sky, which embodies the power and spirit of the continent, to bless his or her life.
African sunshine, soon you will warm your children's eyes
The African sun is a powerful symbol of warmth and energy, and it will soon bring light to everyone on the continent.
The African river water will dance and leap in your morning light
As the sun rises over the African continent, the rivers and waterways will sparkle in the light, reflecting the energy and vitality of the land.
African sunshine
The sunshine in Africa represents the radiant energy that fuels the people and the continent itself.
African river water, will you bless my life?
The artist asks the river, which symbolizes life and renewal, to bless his or her life.
Oh, will you bless my life?
The artist repeats the request for blessings, emphasizing the importance of receiving the support and guidance of the continent's natural forces.
What can I know?
The artist asks a profound question about the limits of human knowledge and understanding.
What can I dream?
The singer expresses a desire to imagine and create new possibilities for the future.
What can I hope?
The artist wonders about the potential for hope and optimism in a world often plagued by conflict and hardship.
What will the future bring?
The singer is uncertain about what the future holds and is seeking guidance and clarity.
You shine through me
The singer is inspired by the light and energy of Africa, which infuses all areas of his or her life.
But will you see me through?
The singer wonders if the continent's powerful forces will support him or her through difficult times, providing the guidance and support needed to succeed.
African thunderstorm, your soldiers march through the air
The African thunderstorm is a powerful and awe-inspiring force, with sounds and movements that resemble an army on the march.
The African rain will fall and wash away all my tears
The rain, which is often seen as a symbol of renewal and cleansing, has the power to wash away the artist's fears and concerns.
African falling rain
The African rain is a powerful force, with the ability to cleanse and nourish the land and its people.
African falling rain, will you bless my life?
The singer asks the rain, which embodies the power of rejuvenation, to bless his or her life.
The warrior's now a worker and his war is underground
The warrior, who represents the spirit of the continent and its struggle for freedom, has now become a worker, toiling in the mines to extract valuable resources.
With cordite in the darkness, he milks the bleeding veins of gold
The worker is using explosives to extract valuable gold from the mines, in a dangerous and grueling process.
When the smoking rock-face murmurs, he always thinks of you
Even in the difficult and dangerous mining process, the worker is always thinking of Africa and its powerful energy and spirit.
African sky blue
The blue sky is a constant reminder of the vastness and power of the continent's natural forces.
Will you see him through?
The artist wonders if the continent's powerful forces will continue to support the worker, even as he faces great danger and hardship.
Lyrics © RHYTHM SAFARI PTY LTD, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Jonathan Clegg, Mvuseni Mchunu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CPB v Schalkwyk
Rest in Peace, Great Man! It was an honour to have lived in your time. YOU blessed our lives!
David Bradshaw
One of my all-time favourite songs. Peace and safe journey, Johnny - you were a fantastic talent, and a strong voice for humanity. I hope the African sunshine is warm on the next astral plane.
Eric Boateng
Wonder Why I never heard of johnny Clegg till today. I have pored over his music and am visibly impressed at his brilliance and love for his country. This humble man truly was colour blind and this what we all need. RIP great son of Africa
Graham Atkinson
RIP Johnny - a true son of Africa. Beautiful songs which will live forever.
Cyprian Tertullian
RIP Johnny. Thank you for standing up for justice when many chose to remain silent and univolved. Africa is proud of you. You'll be missed.
Diane Sarah Chapman
Absolutely amazing, tears in my eyes - so full of hope! Years since I heard it last. (Just played it after an episode of "Wild at Heart"). Love!!!
Jarred Fouche
Johnny clegg is a legend.. I am 15 Now and I listened to this song in December when I was 7.. So 8 years ago.. I have been to 3 of his live Show and absolutely loved them.. He is a true hero to me.. He pushes me through tough times and teaches me to never take anything for granted
Fred Khumalo
i can see you're proud of being South African. Keep on keeping on, young man.
Susan Russell
I'm so sorry to say I have not heard of Johnny Clegg until I read of his passing,and though I 'am saddened by this terrible loss i have found a wonderful musician and from what I'm reading even a better man to be a fan however late i am.thank you Johnny and may you RIP
Charles Le Bek
I am exactly the same. What an amazing man and talent. I am loving his music now !! May you RIP Johnny