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.
Kilimanjaro
Johnny Clegg & Juluka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All my heart is yearning
Like a candle burning in the night
Seasons keep on turning
Sometimes hard to keep up the fight
I will climb the ancient mountain
I will find the last flicker of the light
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro
I cast away all my sorrows
What a strange strange freedom
Only free to choose my chains
So hard not to weaken
Just give up and walk away
I will climb the ancient mountain
I will find the last flicker of the light
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro (Oh yeah)
I can see a new tomorrow (Oh follow me )
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro (Oh yeah)
I cast away all my sorrows (Oh follow me up)
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro (Oh yeah)
It thrills me right down to the marrow (Oh follow me up)
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro
I can see a new tomorrow
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro (I've reached the sun)
I can see a new tomorrow (Oh follow me up)
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro (I've reached the sun)
I cast away all my sorrows (Follow me up)
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro (I've reached the sun)
It thrills me right down to the marrow (Follow me up)
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro (I've reached the sun)
I can see a new tomorrow (Oh follow me up)
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro (I've reached the sun)
I can see a new tomorrow (Oh follow me up)
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro (I've reached the sun)
The song "Kilimanjaro" by Johnny Clegg and Juluka is about reaching the top of a mountain and the feeling of freedom and renewal that comes with it. The lyrics describe the experience of sitting atop Mount Kilimanjaro and looking out at a new tomorrow. The singer talks about the struggle to keep up the fight, but finding hope in the ancient mountain and the last flicker of the light.
The second verse talks about the strange freedom that comes with being free to choose your own chains. It's a reminder that sometimes it's hard not to give up and walk away, but the climb to the top of the mountain represents the ultimate achievement and a sense of renewed purpose.
Overall, the message of the song is one of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. It's a call to push forward, even when the fight seems difficult or insurmountable.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro
The singer, physically located on top of Mount Kilimanjaro, is experiencing elevated emotions.
All my heart is yearning
The singer is longing or craving for something deeply meaningful.
Like a candle burning in the night
The singer's passion, like the flame of a candle, illuminates the darkness.
Seasons keep on turning
The passage of time is inevitable, no matter how much the artist wants to hold onto the present moment.
Sometimes hard to keep up the fight
The struggle to persevere and overcome obstacles can be difficult.
I will climb the ancient mountain
The singer has set a goal to overcome a difficult challenge in order to achieve enlightenment.
I will find the last flicker of the light
The singer will not give up until they have found hope or inspiration to overcome their challenges.
I'm sitting on the top of Kilimanjaro
The artist is still on top of Mount Kilimanjaro, experiencing the elevated emotions from earlier.
I can see a new tomorrow
The artist has gained a new perspective or insight that allows them to see a brighter future ahead.
I cast away all my sorrows
The artist has let go of their emotional pain or suffering and embraced hope for the future.
What a strange strange freedom
The freedom to make choices can be challenging and unexpected.
Only free to choose my chains
Even when choosing to do something that brings freedom, there are often still limitations or obligations that come with that choice.
So hard not to weaken
It can be difficult to maintain resilience and not let obstacles defeat us.
Just give up and walk away
The temptation to quit or withdraw is sometimes strong in the face of adversity.
It thrills me right down to the marrow
The singer is deeply moved and excited down to their bones.
I've reached the sun
The artist has achieved a great feat, such as reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Oh follow me up
The artist is calling out to others to join them in their journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lylejohannes2709
The irony of this song,
"I will climb the ancient mountain
I will find the last flicker of the light
I'm sittin' on the top of Kilimanjaro
I can see a new tomorrow (oh follow me up)
I'm sittin' on the top of Kilimanjaro
I cast away all my sorrows..."
RIP Johnny Clegg
@ssrsssingh5905
Saw Johnny Clegg perform this song live at Raffels Nightclub at the Maharani Hotel Durban in 1986. What a talented artist with so much energy. This song will live on forever. Africa's true son.
@donnastevenson6479
RIP - One of our greatest South Africans ever!
@theodorebasson6153
I’m 25% South African I love his song Rest In Peace Jonny Clegg
@trevorwaninara7570
Thanks Late Johnny Clegg for sharing your music over the years. Kilimanjaro and Scatterlings of Africa two hits like hearing. You are a hero and your music has meaning.
@regaogetswechuene9591
When I summit Kilimanjaro this will be my jam. RIP to a legend who could have chosen to enjoy his white privileges but fought the injustices the only way he knew how.. Through music
@elitepremium2981
May 2020, you can join me, it is already one of my songs, the other one is Africa by Toto, but this is my number 1 song!!!!
@katewilmot4375
He is sitting on top of Kilimanjaro, no more pain or suffering 😭😭😭
@davidbuck5916
RIP, Johnny. You changed the world for the better.
@paulmabunda4287
The Man who DEFIED APARTHEID.
@jls5480
Paul Mabunda - yay. Zimbabwe