Juluka was a South African music band formed in 1969 by Johnny Clegg and Si… Read Full Bio ↴Juluka was a South African music band formed in 1969 by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. Juluka means "sweat" in Zulu, and was the name of a bull owned by Mchunu. The band was closely associated with the mass movement against apartheid.

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.

Universal Men
Juluka Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I have undone this distance so many times before
That it seems as if this life of mine is trapped between two shores
As the little ones grow older on the station platform
I shall undo that distance just once more
My brothers and my sisters have been scattered in the wind
Dressed in cheap horizons which have never quite fitted
And for centuries they've traveled on a pale phantom ship
Sailing for that shore which has no other shore

And they sing in Zulu
From their hands leap the buildings, from their shoulders bridges fall
And they stand astride the mountains and they pull out all the gold
And the songs of their fathers raise strange cities to the sky
Where they did not belong and could not belong
And they never knew why
And they share with the swallows all their winters and their hopes
But often they get lost between the highways and the stores
And the rivers of the homelands murmur in their dreams
They're shackled to that distance till heaven lets them in
And they sing in Zulu again
Well they could not read and they could not write, and they could not spell their names
But they took this world in both hands and they changed it all the same
And from whence they came and where they went nobody knows or cares
Cast adrift between two worlds, they could still be heard to say:
I have undone this distance so many times before
That it seems as if this life of mine is trapped between two shores
As the little ones grow older on the station platform

I shall undo that distance just once more
And I sing in Zulu too

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Juluka's song "Universal Men" capture the essence of the immigrant experience and the struggle to forge an identity in a new land. The singer speaks of the distance that he has undone so many times before, suggesting that he has crossed borders and traversed the world seeking a place to call home. He describes his brothers and sisters as being scattered in the wind, suggesting that they too have experienced the same sense of rootlessness and displacement.

The image of the pale phantom ship is striking, evoking the centuries-long journey that many people have taken across oceans and continents in search of a better life. The reference to Zulu songs and traditions adds a sense of cultural richness and depth to the lyrics, suggesting that despite the challenges faced by immigrants, their heritage and traditions remain a source of pride and comfort.

Line by Line Meaning

I have undone this distance so many times before
I have bridged the gap between different worlds several times in the past

That it seems as if this life of mine is trapped between two shores
Having experienced multiple cultures, it appears as if my life is stuck between two places

As the little ones grow older on the station platform
As generations come and go, witnessing their growth and development

I shall undo that distance just once more
I will connect once again with those who live far away

My brothers and my sisters have been scattered in the wind
My family and loved ones have been separated by circumstance

Dressed in cheap horizons which have never quite fitted
Struggling with environments that don't quite align with their identities

And for centuries they've traveled on a pale phantom ship
Through generations they've endured hardship, like ghosts haunting a ship

Sailing for that shore which has no other shore
Seeking a place of belonging that may not exist

And they sing in Zulu
Expressing themselves through song in their native language

From their hands leap the buildings, from their shoulders bridges fall
They have built grand structures through their hard work and determination

And they stand astride the mountains and they pull out all the gold
Braving great obstacles and achieving success

And the songs of their fathers raise strange cities to the sky
Their cultural heritage inspires the creation of unique cities

Where they did not belong and could not belong
Creating new places to belong, rather than relying on existing societal systems

And they never knew why
The purpose behind these actions was often unclear

And they share with the swallows all their winters and their hopes
Taking comfort in the changing seasons and in their aspirations

But often they get lost between the highways and the stores
Navigating unfamiliar urban environments can lead to feelings of disorientation

And the rivers of the homelands murmur in their dreams
Nostalgia for the familiar and comforting home environment persists

They're shackled to that distance till heaven lets them in
The physical distance separating them from loved ones is a burden they must bear

And they sing in Zulu again
Returning to expression through song in their native language

Well they could not read and they could not write, and they could not spell their names
Even in the face of illiteracy and societal limitations, they still made great strides

But they took this world in both hands and they changed it all the same
They seized every opportunity and made a significant impact despite the odds against them

And from whence they came and where they went nobody knows or cares
Their origins and destinations are unknown, but their contributions are nonetheless significant

Cast adrift between two worlds, they could still be heard to say:
Despite feeling torn between different cultures, their voices still carry weight

Contributed by Juliana C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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