.: Last weekend, I participated in my 14th consequtive Edmonton Folk Music Festival as a volunteer. I was blessed with the opportunity to work with one of my musical heroes, Johnny Clegg. Clegg and Sipho Mchunu formed the seminal South African band Juluka in the late 1970s. Their song, "Scatterlings of Africa", is an all-time favorite.
Clegg and his band rocked the festival during the Sunday (Aug 7) 2:00 pm mainstage show, and later in the evening, at the after-festival party. At the party, I planted myself in front of the stage, a few feet away from Johnny, and danced to his music for 75 delirious, joyful minutes. For both shows, Johnny and the current version of Savuka played a tight, melodic and joyful show, showcasing many of Juluka and Savuka well-known songs, and mixing in many different dance steps, which I assume were based on Zulu tradition in many cases.
I was thrilled when I learned Clegg was playing our festival. He is one of those artists I have always wanted to watch in performance, and to have experienced such an amazing show twice in less than twelve hours was a gift from God. I don't know how else to describe it.
Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu defied apartheid authority in their early musical collaborative days in South Africa. Because Clegg was white and Mchunu black, they were subject to police harrassment, threats, and abuse. The continuing development of their unique sound, which led to the formation of their band, Juluka (Zulu for "sweat"), was in defiance of the cultural segregation laws at the time. With their music largely ignored in their home country, they played live performances on the street and at private functions. Word of mouth continued to spread, and Juluka's reputation grew, eventually leading to a record contract, and international recognition. Further details are available on the biography page on this site.
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Article comments
1 - adam
Do you know when they're passing through New York City? I know Johnny, would love to say hello.
2 - randy
Ack! Johnny and Savuka played in New York on August 4th, just before our festival, at least according to this itinerary: http://www.johnnyclegg.com/tour.htm
3 - Jacques Bailly
Dear Mr Clegg,
I'm French and i spent lot of my life in asia and africa. Like everybody, I was horrified by the cruels assassinations of Steve BIKO and numerous others anti-apartheid militants.
But, today, I wish to ask you a question:
Are you going now to sing in favour of the white farmers daily assassinated and tortured with their whole family in South Africa. The same murders are committed whith total impunity in ex-Rhodesia.
Please, tell me what you think about That.
Very truly yours.
J.Bailly