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.
Kwela Man
Johnny Clegg & Juluka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kwela man, singing under the street light
A cheap guitar, he gave his sorrow a smile
And he sowed his songs in the alley ways mile upon mile
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
Ye hum ho la la Kwela, Kwela
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
Ye hum ho la la Kwela, Kwela
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
You gave it your life
Living low with the Pennywhistle, tea-chest base gang
I followed him home and he danced as he sang
But now he's gone, not even the slightest traces
Of a Kwela song and the street is full of empty spaces
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
Ye hum ho la la Kwela, Kwela
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
You gave it your life
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
Ye hum ho la la Kwela, Kwela
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
You gave it your life
Nobody knows, did he survive the winding road?
Did he find a song that took him back to the heartland?
Here I stand, lost in the memory
Of a Kwela man, singing in the long gone twilight
When I followed you home Kwela man
You filled my soul, Kwela, Kwela
When you sang your song Kwela man
You gave it your life
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
Ye hum ho la la Kwela, Kwela
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
You gave it your life
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
Ye hum ho la la Kwela, Kwela
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
You gave it your life
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
Ye hum ho la la Kwela, Kwela
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
You gave it your life
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
Ye hum ho la la Kwela, Kwela
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
You gave it your life
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
Ye hum ho la la Kwela, Kwela
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
"Kwela Man" is a song that pays tribute to a musical genre popularized in the townships of South Africa during the 1950s and 60s. The song tells the story of a singer who played under a street light with a cheap guitar, creating music that embodied the spirit of the people living in the ghettos. The singer is referred to as the "Kwela man," and his music is described as sowing songs mile upon mile in the alleyways. The lyrics of the song describe the life of this man and how he gave his all to music, defying the difficult circumstances he was living in.
As the song progresses, the singer tells of how he followed the Kwela man home and saw him dance and sing. But now, the Kwela man is gone, and the street is empty, except for the memories of his music that still linger on. The final part of the song is a tribute to the Kwela man, with the singer asking whether he ever found the song that would take him back to the heartland, and expressing how he filled his soul with his music.
Overall, "Kwela Man" is a poignant tribute to a time and place when music was a source of hope and inspiration for those living in poverty and hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Long ago there was a sound in the night
Once upon a time, during the darkness of the night, a particular sound could be heard
Kwela man, singing under the street light
The person responsible for this sound was the legendary musician known as the Kwela man, performing beneath the illumination of a street light
A cheap guitar, he gave his sorrow a smile
Despite his lack of resources, the Kwela man used a simple guitar to express his emotions and transform his sadness into happiness
And he sowed his songs in the alley ways mile upon mile
The Kwela man spread his music throughout the city, traveling great distances and sharing his songs in the alleys between buildings
Ye hum ho la lo Kwela man
This chant is a tribute to the Kwela man, acknowledging and celebrating his legacy
Ye hum ho la la Kwela, Kwela
Another chant in honor of the Kwela genre, recognizing its unique sound and influence
You gave it your life
The Kwela man dedicated his entire existence to his music, pouring all his energy and soul into every performance
Living low with the Pennywhistle, tea-chest base gang
The Kwela man belonged to a community of musicians who utilized unconventional instruments like tea-chest basses and pennywhistles
I followed him home and he danced as he sang
The artist was touched by the Kwela man's music and followed him back to his home, where he saw him dancing and singing with joy
But now he's gone, not even the slightest traces
The Kwela man disappeared without a trace, which is a great loss for the music world
Of a Kwela song and the street is full of empty spaces
Without the Kwela man's music, the streets feel uninviting and empty
Nobody knows, did he survive the winding road?
It is unclear if the Kwela man is still alive and if he endured difficult circumstances along his journey
Did he find a song that took him back to the heartland?
Perhaps the Kwela man discovered a special song that transported him back to his roots and origins
Here I stand, lost in the memory
The singer is stuck in the memories of the Kwela man and his magical performances
Of a Kwela man, singing in the long gone twilight
The singer reminisces about the Kwela man's beautiful music and how it used to fill the night sky
When I followed you home Kwela man
The artist directly addresses the Kwela man, acknowledging the impact his music had on his life
You filled my soul, Kwela, Kwela
The Kwela man's music deeply touched the artist's soul, inspiring him and bringing him joy
When you sang your song Kwela man
The singer remembers the power and beauty of the Kwela man's music and how it would captivate his audience
You gave it your life
The Kwela man poured all his passion, soul, and energy into his music, devoting his entire life to it
Lyrics © RHYTHM SAFARI PTY LTD, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Jonathan Paul Clegg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@innovativeembassy969
Who's here in 2023
@lunawytch526
This was the first album I bought on my trip to SA in 83.💜
@9700jb
This is one of my favorite Juluka songs. Johnny tells his own story of how he fell in love with the music. So rocking!
@martyne3325
"When I followed your music [Kwela man], it filled my soul [Kwela Kwela], When you sang your songs [Kwela man
], You gave it your life" :'( RIP Johnny Thank YOU for the music <3
@krismctopher7
What a solid song. I wouldn't add or remove a thing. Just perfect! The Kwela woodwind is so brilliant.
@sunpulsekk
We need more songs like this, celebrating people who followed what they love, for just that.
@ChakaFerry
R.I.P. Johnny Clegg VOICE & TRUE SPIRIT OF SOUTH AFRICA :-(
@neoyt5081
Awe dawg