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.
Woza Moya
Juluka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spirit of a new African day
Oh how we sang that song to be free
In our hearts and in our dreams
Woza Moya muhle
Sibambana ngezandla sibemunye
(Come good spirit
Eya eya
E Hlanganai eya
(Everyone come together)
Show me your anger and I'll show you my fear
Give me your hand and I'll draw you near
You've been down so long, I've been so long afraid
To share what shines beneath each African day
Woza Moya muhle
Sibambana ngezandla sibemunye
(Come good spirit
Let us hold each others hands and be one)
Eya eya
E Hlanganai eya
(Everyone come together)
The Juluka song "Woza Moya" is a powerful and soulful call for unity and freedom in Africa. The lyrics evoke the struggles faced by the people of Africa, who have long fought against oppression and inequality. The opening lines, "So near yet so far away, spirit of a new African day" reflect the emotional distance that exists between the dream of a free continent and the realities of daily life.
The chorus, "Woza Moya muhle, sibambana ngezandla sibemunye" (Come good spirit, let us hold each other's hands and be one) is a rallying cry for the African people to come together, to find strength and support in one another, to overcome their fears, and to work towards a brighter future. The song emphasizes the importance of unity and solidarity in the struggle for freedom and justice, urging everyone to "come together" and stand "hand in hand".
The middle section of the song, "Show me your anger and I'll show you my fear, give me your hand and I'll draw you near, you've been down so long, I've been so long afraid, to share what shines beneath each African day" highlights the vulnerabilities faced by the people of Africa in their quest for freedom. It speaks to the need for compassion and empathy, for understanding and support, even at times when it is difficult or uncomfortable to do so. The song ultimately ends on an uplifting note, with a powerful message of unity and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
So near yet so far away
Despite our physical proximity, we are still distant from one another
Spirit of a new African day
The feeling of hope and progress towards a better future in Africa
Oh how we sang that song to be free
We expressed our yearning for freedom through music
In our hearts and in our dreams
Our desire for a better future exists both consciously and unconsciously
Woza Moya muhle
Come, good spirit
Sibambana ngezandla sibemunye
Let us hold each other's hands and be one
Eya eya
Yes, yes
E Hlanganai eya
Everyone come together
Show me your anger and I'll show you my fear
If you let me see your vulnerability, I will show you mine
Give me your hand and I'll draw you near
If you let me help you, I will bring you closer to me
You've been down so long, I've been so long afraid
We have both been struggling for so long, and I have been hesitant to connect with you
To share what shines beneath each African day
To open up and reveal the bright potential that exists within every African day
Contributed by John H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Loreman72
Ohh, this brings back so many memories... homesickness and nostalgia!
Bréndou Serge Eric Kossonon
Très belle chanson..j'adore