Already in his youth, Johnny Clegg, a white, English-speaking person with what he called a "secular Jewish" upbringing in the UK, Israel, Rhodesia, Zambia, and South Africa, became interested in Zulu street music and took part in traditional Zulu dance competitions.
As a young man, in the early stages of his musical career, he combined his music with the study of anthropology, a subject which he also taught for a while at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, where he was influenced, among others, by the work of David Webster, a social anthropologist who was assassinated in 1989.
Clegg formed the first inter-racial South African band, Juluka, with gardener and Zulu street musician Sipho Mchunu. Because it was illegal for inter-racial bands to perform in South Africa during apartheid, their first album Universal Men received no air play, but it became a word-of-mouth hit.
Juluka's / Clegg'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 non-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-80's. Even more explicit was the (later) Savuka album "Third World Child" in 1987, with songs like "Asimbonanga", which called for the release of Nelson Mandela, and which called out the names of three representative martyrs of the South African liberation struggle: Steve Biko, Victoria Mxenge, and Neil Aggett.
The following albums "Shadow Man" (which sold 250 000 copies within a week after it's release went on to sell more than 1 000 000 copies in France alone)[1], and "Cruel Crazy, Beautiful World" were dealing with more romantic topics, including "Cruel Crazy Beautiful World", where a father gives a message to his son, "Dela" where the very essence of love is explored, and more politically focused songs, such as "Warsaw 1943" and "One (Hu)'man one vote" which go back to political messages. The blend of topics is somehow confusing at first but gives an idea of the creative process underlying it, while the music and lyrics retain all the talent of the singer and his band. "Third World Child" and "Shadow Man" occupied 1st and 2nd position respectively in France and became the most successful foreign band in France and "Shadow Man" topped the charts in Montreaux, Canada.[2] During the prime of the band in 1988 Michael Jackson had to cancel his show as he attracted fewer audience as compared to Johnny Clegg and Savuka.[3] Their last album "Heat Dust and Dream" was nominated for a Grammy Award for best album in the category of World Music.[4]
Juluka were able to tour in Europe, and had two platinum and five gold albums, becoming an international success. Juluka was disbanded in 1986, when Mchunu was asked by his father to return home and herd the family goats, although Mchunu made some solo recordings afterwards. Clegg went on to form his second inter-racial band, Savuka, continuing to blend African music with European, especially Celtic, influences.
Briefly reunited with Mchunu in the mid-90's, Clegg reformed Juluka and toured throughout the world as the opening act for King Sunny Ade, as well as headliner performances.
The name Juluka is based on the Zulu word for "sweat", and Savuka is based on the Zulu word for "we have risen" or "we have awakened".
Clegg and his band often make an international tour during May-August (South African winter). However, the tours are usually limited to France and surrounding countries. In June 2004, the Johnny Clegg Band toured North America for the first time in over eight years, doing 22 concerts in one month. Even though they had no albums for sale in North America during those eight years, and no significant media coverage, they filled most of their venues. At the close of the final concert at the Keswick Theater in Philadelphia, Clegg stated that he was amazed at the reception they had gotten, and promised to return the following year with a full band. He then thanked his Internet fans for their support.
The band returned to North America in July 2005, with dates booked throughout the U.S. and Canada. Clegg's new album One Life was remixed at Real World Studios in Bath, England, and released on October 30th, 2006 in the UK.
In 2004 he was voted 23rd in the SABC3's Great South Africans.
African Sky Blue
Johnny Clegg & Juluka 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
@thosimofokeng4721
One of the best Juluka songs.
@scherritknoesen148
RIP Johnny- we all lost a true African hero.
@katsii1
he was a force for the power of love and the power of music and he is missed
@lisavanderwesthuizen8088
Today the world lost a beautiful voice. Bye Johnny, today is your crossing. :(
@Kaleidoscope369
Beautiful music!! ❤
@shirazbosman3328
Rest in Power✨🇿🇦
@paulmutyaba7332
This what i call music.
@rqdonaldson
RIP Johnny - ndiyabonga
@aupasmith5217
❤
@emile8366
This is banta