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.
Sky People
Johnny Clegg & Juluka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Webaba ungilahlile 'zulu ngasala obala Hawa!
Ntgasala ngedwa
Sengiphuphe inkunzi emnyama
Sengi phuphe inkunzi ngisaba amazondo, may
Where did the time, time, time go?
My old eyes can hardly see The green fields leaving me behind
With a strong heart and steady hand
Seasons wheeled across the sky
I turned around and found that I was old
Trembling heart, body cold
Wind and rain
Take their toll
Perhaps the morning brings a sweet surprise
A new summer will be born
A new hope in the dawn
A honey season, birds and bees
Surging, humming harmonies
The Old Ones gone before
Weep for those they left behind
Their tears fall and rise and wash the earth
The heavens thunder everywhere
When the Ancients dance upon the air
Armies march across the sky
Who knows if they ever will return?
I dream of my coloured cattle in the hills
Of shields in fields of yellow and brown
The drums of Zimbabwe speak
They roll across the great divide
And my future has been
Written in the sky
Smiling spear with teeth of white
Give me strength to face the night
Ancient song, bless my life
Sing me through to see the morning light
Hum-oh-hum
The first verse of Sky People by Johnny Clegg & Juluka speaks of a person entranced by the image of Zulu men working the land. The phrase "Webaba ungilahlile 'zulu ngasala obala" loosely translates to "Father, you've left me Zulu, with the plow that scrapes the earth." The singer is reflecting on how time has passed by so quickly, and how they may not be as strong as they used to be. They describe that they have had a vision of a black bull, which they interpret as a symbol of danger. The images of the sky people, or gods, marching across the sky, add to the powerful feeling of being in the presence of something both mysterious and awe-inspiring.
The second verse of the song speaks to the cyclical nature of life, with seasons passing by only to bring about new ones. The singer references the sadness of losing those who have gone before them, but also the hope of new life and a fresh start. The metaphor of "the drums of Zimbabwe" rolls across the great divide, speaking to the idea that the African continent is connected in a deeply spiritual way. The singer closes the song with a wish for strength and guidance from the ancestors, invoking the power of an "ancient song" to help carry them through the night.
Line by Line Meaning
Webaba ungilahlile 'zulu ngasala obala
Where did the time, time, time go?
Webaba ungilahlile 'zulu ngasala obala Hawa!
My old eyes can hardly see The green fields leaving me behind
Ntgasala ngedwa
I worked for the earth and turned the clay
Sengiphuphe inkunzi emnyama
With a strong heart and steady hand
Sengi phuphe inkunzi ngisaba amazondo, may
Seasons wheeled across the sky
Trembling heart, body cold
Wind and rain Take their toll
Wind and rain Take their toll
Perhaps the morning brings a sweet surprise A new summer will be born
Perhaps the morning brings a sweet surprise A new summer will be born
A new hope in the dawn A honey season, birds and bees Surging, humming harmonies
The Old Ones gone before
Weep for those they left behind
Weep for those they left behind
Their tears fall and rise and wash the earth
Their tears fall and rise and wash the earth
The heavens thunder everywhere When the Ancients dance upon the air
The heavens thunder everywhere
Armies march across the sky
Armies march across the sky
Who knows if they ever will return?
I dream of my coloured cattle in the hills
Of shields in fields of yellow and brown
Of shields in fields of yellow and brown
The drums of Zimbabwe speak
The drums of Zimbabwe speak
They roll across the great divide
They roll across the great divide
And my future has been Written in the sky
And my future has been Written in the sky
Smiling spear with teeth of white Give me strength to face the night
Smiling spear with teeth of white Give me strength to face the night
Ancient song, bless my life Sing me through to see the morning light
Hum-oh-hum
Hum-oh-hum
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Johnny Clegg, Sipho Mchunu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sammy Mdluli
The lyrics obviously say "The drums of Zambezi Speak" not Zimbabwe. Secondly it's "Ubaba ongilahlile zulu..." and not "Webaba"
@user-ql6rs7ce7b
The best song of juluka