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.
Great Heart
Johnny Clegg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every man has to be his own savior
I know I can make it on my own if I try
But I'm searching for a great heart to stand me by
Underneath the African sky
A great heart to stand me by
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
Under African sky
Sometimes I feel that you really know me
Sometimes there's so much you can show me
There's a highway of stars across the heavens
There's whispering song of the wind in the grass
There's the rolling thunder across the savanna
A hope and dream at the edge of the sky
And your life is a story like the wind
Your life is a story like the wind
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
To hold and stand me by
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
Under African sky
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
I see the fire in your eyes
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
That beats my name inside
Sometimes I feel that you really know me
Sometimes there's so much you can show me
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
(Guka 'mzimba, sala 'nhliziyo)
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
(Guka 'mzimba, sala 'nhliziyo)
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
To hold and stand me by
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
Under African sky
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
(Guka 'mzimba, sala 'nhliziyo)
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
(Guka 'mzimba, sala 'nhliziyo)
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
(Guka 'mzimba, sala 'nhliziyo)
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
The lyrics to Johnny Clegg and Savuka's song "Great Heart" speak to the universal need for connection and the search for a higher power to guide us through life's challenges. The opening lines reflect on the strange and often unpredictable nature of the world, emphasizing the need for self-reliance. However, the singer acknowledges that they are still searching for something greater, a "great heart" that can stand by them and give them strength when they falter. The theme of searching is repeated throughout the song as the singer seeks out the "spirit of the great heart" under the vast and beautiful African sky.
The second verse emphasizes the importance of human connection and the wealth of knowledge that can be shared in a relationship. The imagery of the highway of stars, the wind in the grass, and the rolling thunder across the savanna all point to the vastness of the natural world and the possibility for transcendence. The chorus repeats the message of the search for the "spirit of the great heart" and the longing for connection, both with a higher power and with other human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
The world is full of strange behavior
The world can be unpredictable and difficult to understand at times
Every man has to be his own savior
Each individual is responsible for their own salvation and success
I know I can make it on my own if I try
I am confident in my abilities to succeed independently
But I'm searching for a great heart to stand me by
Despite my self-sufficiency, I still desire support from someone with a good heart
Underneath the African sky
In the beautiful and unique environment of Africa
I'm searching for the spirit of the great heart
I am seeking the essence of someone who embodies goodness and compassion
To hold and keep me by
To be a constant source of comfort and support
Sometimes I feel that you really know me
There are moments where I sense a deep connection with another person
Sometimes there's so much you can show me
Other times, I feel that there is still much to learn from others
There's a highway of stars across the heavens
The universe is vast and full of wonders beyond our imagination
There's whispering song of the wind in the grass
Nature is constantly communicating with us through its subtle sounds and movements
There's the rolling thunder across the savanna
The power and majesty of nature can be awe-inspiring
A hope and dream at the edge of the sky
The future holds endless possibilities and potential
And your life is a story like the wind
Life is constantly changing and full of twists and turns
I see the fire in your eyes
I sense a strong passion and drive in you
That beats my name inside
You have a connection to me that runs deep
Guka 'mzimba, sala 'nhliziyo
This is a Zulu phrase which means 'hold the body and soul together'
Lyrics © RHYTHM SAFARI PTY LTD, Downtown Music Publishing, O/B/O CAPASSO
Written by: Jonathan Paul Clegg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carolmartin2768
🇿🇦 I loved and love this man so much.
His music formed the soundtrack to my childhood and adolescence.
He had a Great heart indeed, and such love for my homeland and the continent we live on.
I am ever grateful for the gift of his music. He was a true son of the African continent.
Love to all who live in Africa.
Never lose hope. We have so much wealth in music, knowledge, art, poetry, entrepreneurship and above all Ubuntu, love and passion.
Viva Africa ✝️💜🌈🎵🦋
@saabturbo16
Shocked and Saddened today to learn the news that Johnny has passed away. There is a great gap left by his passing ..
I havecbeenva fan for many years of South African Music , not the contrived stuff but the REAL music.
As a kid I remember when Elias and his zig zag jive flutes had a hit with 'Tom Hark ' theme, a melody still heard at football matches today.
In the bad years I became acquainted with Music you wouldnt hear in South Africa , on tapes, township jive, rythmn of resistance, Mahotelland queens, and many more including
Sipho mabuse and Juluka with Johnny Clegg and scatterlings of Africa.
From then on I was hooked..
He has left an indelible mark on South Africa, his Music will live on and his legacy to the real people is enourmous.
He is not here now, but the pain of his passing is real.
Mandela his friend has called him to join him and they can now rest together..
God Bless you Johnny, a giant of a man who did so much to expand Real South African Music to the world.
@jessejames258
As an American, this guy deserves global recognition. I've lived in South Africa for 4 years growing up and that's the only reason I know him and I'm glad I did. His music is criminally underrated.
@bradh6062
So glad you experienced it. Stays with you always
@notamusedboosh
His son Jesse is also a musician, he has some good hits too. Sadly his wife passed away a week ago due to cancer as well. For my Mum's birthday, we bought her two tickets to his last concert. She said it was amazing and sad.
@KonradvonHotzendorf
He outsold Michael Jackson in France in 1988. MC had to cancel 😂
Don't know any Artist who could do the same?🤔
@ilovethelord847
Yes! This song reminds me of everybody wants to rule the world. Same vibes
Of Africa by Toto
@KonradvonHotzendorf
@@janmalan602 Well with the name of Jan Malan🇿🇦😂 Checks out
What's your full name 🤔
@donaloshea2936
Hamba kahale White Zulu, any of us that ever spent time in South Africa, knew your music and loved you for it, you will always have a special place in my heart. RIP Great Heart!!!♥️😥♥️😥♥️ Irish by birth but African by the Grace of God, 22 years in southern africa!!♥️♥️♥️♥️
@JenCarew
Us Irish really do get everywhere 💚 well said Donal
@quinnooz7109
My mother spent time in Africa, a piece of her heart is still there 😥❤️🩹
@andrewhall9051
Nice ☝️❤️🇿🇦