At the age of 14, Clegg met Zulu street musician Charlie Mzila, who taught him Zulu music and dancing over the following two years. In 1969 Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu met in Johannesburg when young sipho went there to find work. The 18-year-old Mchunu challenged the 16-year-old Clegg to a guitar contest, and the two became friends. Soon, they were performing together on the streets and in what few other unofficial venues a multi-racial band could safely play in under apartheid. They were forced to keep a low profile and their success came from word of mouth instead of through traditional publicity. Clegg himself was arrested and beaten up by the police on several occasions for his activities and also for the band's lyrics. For some commentators, Juluka was the band that had the greatest success in challenging the racial separateness of Apartheid. When performing, both black and white band members would appear on stage in traditional Zulu dress and perform the traditional Zulu war dance together while singing in Zulu and English.[1]
In 1976, they released their debut single, "Woza Friday", followed three years later by a critically acclaimed album, Universal Men.[2] The album's poetic lyrics were strongly influenced by John Berger's A Seventh Man as well as Pablo Neruda and Jean-Paul Sartre.[citation needed] Expanding to a quintet, they released a second album, African Litany, in late 1981. The album's lead single, "Impi", with its pointedly political lyrics about a defeat of the colonial British army by the Zulus at the Battle of Isandlwana, was banned by South African radio but became an underground hit. In contemporary South Africa it is often associated with national sports teams. The album garnered them their first international attention, and they were able to successfully tour in Europe and North America in 1982 and 1983. However, in June 1983, the British music magazine, NME, reported that they were initially banned by the Musicians Union as, ..."since it would not be possible to approve one of our bands working in South Africa, there is no possibility of an exchange". The ban was eventually lifted, with the group donating their fees to charity.[3]
In South Africa, Juluka was also banned by Radio Bantu, a government approved radio station for the black population, which allegedly refused to play Juluka's music, because Clegg's efforts were seen as "an insult to the Zulu and their culture".[4]
The group disbanded in 1985 when Mchunu moved back to the farm where he was born in Natal to take care of his family. Clegg went on to form a new band, Savuka, with whom he achieved even greater international success. In 1997, however, the two friends came back for a final album together. It did not receive the critical acclaim of early Juluka albums like Universal Men, African Litany, Work for All and Scatterlings.
Kilimanjaro
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
Chorus:
I can see a new tomorrow
I'm sittin' on the top of Kilimanjaro
I cast aways 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
Chorus:
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 (oh follow me up)
I'm sittin' on the top of Kilimanjaro
It thrills me right down to the marrow (oh follow me up)
I'm sittin' on the top of Kilimanjaro
I can see a new tomorrow
Um ho um
Chorus:
I'm sittin' on the top of Kilimanjaro
I can see a new tomorrow.
I've reached the sun.
The lyrics of Juluka's "Kilimanjaro" seem to describe the singer's experience of climbing Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, and the emotional journey that accompanies it. The first stanza uses a metaphor of a candle burning in the night to express the singer's yearning and motivation to keep fighting despite the challenges they face. The chorus reveals that reaching the top of Kilimanjaro represents a personal victory over their struggles: the singer can now see a new tomorrow and has cast away their sorrows. However, the following stanza acknowledges the paradox of freedom: the singer may be free to choose their own path, but it is often difficult not to succumb to temptation and give up. Yet, the resolve to keep climbing and find the last flicker of light remains. The repetition of the chorus in the end suggests the magnitude of this victory, as the singer has reached the sun, representing the pinnacle of their journey.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sittin' on the top of Kilimanjaro
I have climbed to the top of Kilimanjaro and am sitting here enjoying the view
All my heart is yearning
I feel a deep longing inside me
Like a candle burning in the night
My heart is burning with passion, like a candle illuminating the darkness
Seasons keep on turning
Time passes by and things are constantly changing
Sometimes hard to keep up the fight
It can be difficult to continue striving towards my goals
I will climb the ancient mountain
I am determined to conquer this old mountain
I will find the last flicker of the light
I will not give up until I find the last bit of hope or inspiration
Chorus: I'm sittin' on the top of Kilimanjaro, I can see a new tomorrow
Being atop Kilimanjaro gives me a fresh perspective and hope for what lies ahead
I cast aways all my sorrows
I have let go of all the sadness or problems that used to weigh me down
What a strange strange freedom, Only free to choose my chains
It's a strange feeling to be free to make my own decisions, yet always having some kind of commitment or responsibility tying me down
So hard not to weaken- Just give up and walk away
It's incredibly difficult to stay strong and not give into the urge to give up and leave
It thrills me right down to the marrow
Being on top of Kilimanjaro is a thrilling and exhilarating experience, filling me to my very core
Um ho um
Vocalization that does not have a specific meaning
I've reached the sun.
I feel as though I have achieved something remarkable, like reaching the sun
Contributed by Henry F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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