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 donβt 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 1Β½.
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, 1822β1944". 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, 24β26 September 1981, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. Grahamstown: Institute of Social and Economic Research.
December African Rain
Johnny Clegg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing on the earth, the sky is bleeding
Standing on the earth, sun is leaving
Leaving us behind
Once there was an African love song
Helped us on our way
Made our hearts feel as strong
As the African Day
The long gone summer has passed
And I hear the owls calling my name
The firelight has danced its last
Across your face my friend
And though I love you
I somehow know this is going to be the end
Now the sun has disappeared
And all that remains
An old tin mug and a photograph
So wipe away those tears, and remember the good times
Standing on the earth, moon is rising
Somewhere in the world, spirit flying
Standing on the earth, leaves are falling
Taking us away
I never knew whom I could love more, you or the land
Till I stood lost upon that shore, naked and alone
Bye bye December African rain
The long gone summer has passed
And I hear the owls calling my name
The firelight has danced its last
Across your face my friend
And though I love you
I somehow know this is going to be the end
Cause all the birds have flown away
The night is closing in
It's so hard to say goodbye to eyes as old as yours my friend
Where did the time go?
Can you tell me, where did the time go?
Where did the time go?
Can you tell me, where did the time go?
Where did the time go?
Can you tell me, where did the time go?
Time life show
Life time go
Time life show
Where did the time go?
Can you tell me, where did the time go?
Where did your life go?
Can you tell me, where did my life go?
Where did your life go?
Can you tell me, where did you're life go?
Where did your life go?
The lyrics of Johnny Clegg & Juluka's song December African Rain are layered with complex themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. The song begins with a description of a person standing on the earth, watching a seagull flying against a bleeding sky, with the sun leaving them behind. These lines suggest a sense of abandonment or disconnection from the world, as if the singer is witnessing the end of something important. The next lines introduce the idea of an "African love song," which helped us on our way and made our hearts feel as strong as the African Day. This song is presented as a memory, a reminder of a time when life was full of possibility and beauty.
As the song progresses, there are repeated references to the passage of time and the inevitability of endings. The chorus, "Bye bye December African rain / The long gone summer has passed / And I hear the owls calling my name / The firelight has danced its last," suggests the end of a season, and by extension, the end of a relationship or a way of life. These lines are followed by a description of an old tin mug and a photograph, which are all that remain of a past that is slipping away. The singer is forced to confront the fact that all the birds have flown away and the night is closing in, and they realize that it's "so hard to say goodbye to eyes as old as yours my friend."
The final stanza of the song is a series of questions, as if the singer is trying to make sense of what has happened: "Where did the time go? / Can you tell me, where did the time go? / Where did your life go? / Can you tell me, where did my life go? / Where did your life go? / Can you tell me, where did your life go?" These questions are left unanswered, but they convey a sense of confusion and despair at the passing of time and the loss of something precious.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on the earth, seagull flying
Observing the world around us, seeing a seagull soaring freely in the sky
Standing on the earth, the sky is bleeding
Standing on the ground, with the sun setting and the sky adorned with shades of red and orange
Standing on the earth, sun is leaving
Being present on the earth, watching the sun going down
Leaving us behind
The sun sets and we're left behind to keep moving forward
Once there was an African love song
A song brought a feeling of love and unity with its African roots
Helped us on our way
That song gave us a boost and encouragement to continue moving forward
Made our hearts feel as strong
The song filled our hearts with courage and strength
As the African Day
Reflecting the strength and beauty of an African day, full of warmth and hope
Bye bye December African rain
Goodbye to the African rain in December
The long gone summer has passed
The summer has come and gone
And I hear the owls calling my name
At night, an owl is heard and it feels like a personal connection
The firelight has danced its last
The fire that once sparked and emanated light, has extinguished
Across your face my friend
This phrase is directed towards somebody close to the singer, whose face the firelight once shone upon
And though I love you
Despite loving them, the end is inevitable
I somehow know this is going to be the end
This situation will come to an end, sooner rather than later
Now the sun has disappeared
The sun has set and there is nothing left of it
And all that remains
The only thing that remains
An old tin mug and a photograph
An aged tin cup and a photograph signify stories of the past
So wipe away those tears, and remember the good times
Stop your tears from falling and recall the happy times spent together
Standing on the earth, moon is rising
Standing on the ground, observing the rising of the moon
Somewhere in the world, spirit flying
Someplace worldwide, a spirit flying free in the sky
Standing on the earth, leaves are falling
Remaining on the ground, the tree leaves are falling as the weather changes
Taking us away
Referring to the journey of life, taking us away from the present
I never knew whom I could love more, you or the land
Being unsure whether the land or the person beside the singer received more love
Till I stood lost upon that shore, naked and alone
Until the point when the singer felt lost, hopeless, and lonely on an unknown shore
Cause all the birds have flown away
All the birds have flown away from the area
The night is closing in
As the evening grows darker, the night is creeping in
It's so hard to say goodbye to eyes as old as yours my friend
It is difficult to bid farewell to a friend who has been with me for so many years
Where did the time go?
Time has passed so quickly, where has it gone?
Can you tell me, where did the time go?
Asking someone else to point out where the time has gone
Where did your life go?
Questioning someone else where they think their own life has gone
Can you tell me, where did my life go?
Posing a question to somebody to give an explanation of where my life has gone
Where did your life go?
Asking somebody where their life went, full of curiosity and wonder
Can you tell me, where did you're life go?
Asking somebody where their life has gone, seeking knowledge
Where did your life go?
Asking somebody where their life went, full of curiosity and wonder
Lyrics Β© RHYTHM SAFARI PTY LTD, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JONATHAN PAUL CLEGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annawitter5161
Oh dear! My tears are running. I am an expatriat living in New Zealand. We came here to provide a future for our children, but oh my! This song makes me remember and long! I am not even black. Why do I feel this way!!!ππππPerhaps being a dancer and artist makes me more tuned in and sensitive. I keep Africa in prayer, dear God!!
@killuakinnie8515
We keep u in our hearts
@Cathmaj
Nostalgia is a powerful force β€
@Shiningstarspodcast
If you are a South African..yes this song will make you feel emotional and you will miss home πΏπ¦β€ cause it is not about your appearance it about your inner South African roots β€οΈπΏπ¦
@daviddasilva8383
Did more to bring South Africans together than any politician. RIP mnumzane
@SiyasangaNyongoba-hk8pc
2023 Iβm here because I miss my late Dad β€οΈhe introduced me to the best songs ever!!!!
@keithpodhradsky1314
Always loved the line about how hard it was to say goodbye to "eyes as old as yours".
@RodgersSibanda-yi4qu
Jonny clegg's words are now coming through believe me!!!
@Matthew-sq9zw
I first heard of this band from my father ...RIP....and still listen to these amazing guys....I'm currently homeless and came across some fellow homeless guys from Africa and I asked they were familiar with them ....stupid question...but it brought tears k owing they fou d someone else who appreciates this music.....thanks Johnny Clegg and Juluka
@daviddasilva8383
God bless. Hope you find your home and your place in the sun soon