(Photo by Jo Hale/Redferns via Getty Images)
South African Musical Icon Johnny Clegg Has Died
Rest in peace to one of "South Africa's greatest sons."
South African musician Johnny Clegg, passed away on Tuesday at his home in Johannesburg, following a four year battle with pancreatic cancer, Reuters reports. He was 66.
The artist was the founder of the bands Juluka and Savuka, two mixed-raced bands formed during the apartheid era. He was known as a vocal critic of the apartheid regime, writing the 1987 song "Asimbonanga" for a then incarcerated Nelson Mandela. The song became a rallying cry for South Africans fighting or freedom.
He performed the tribute with Mandela on stage in 1999, which you can watch below.
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3d04d8132d03bd29315e42454d279be9"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BGS7SpI7obY?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Johnny Clegg (With Nelson Mandela) - Asimbonanga - 1999 Fran</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGS7SpI7obY" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
</small>
</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>Born in England to a Zimbabwean mother, the artist moved to Johannesburg as a child after his mother remarried. He was fluent in Zulu, often fusing it into his songs along with traditional folk music, or <em>mbaqanga. </em></p><p>He earned a Grammy nomination and won a Billboard Award during his decades-long career. He was the recipient of an Order of Ikhamanga in silver—one of the highest national honors given to South African citizens. </p><p>"His music had the ability to unite people across the races and bring them together as a community," read a tribute message from the <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernmentZA" target="_blank">South African government's Twitter page.</a> "We send our sincere condolences to his family, friends and fans. Clegg has made an indelible mark in the music industry and the hearts of the people." </p><p>Clegg's work has had a lasting impact on South African popular music, and tributes have been pouring in from fans, supporters, and fellow musicians in remembrance of the accomplished artist. </p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
checkdfpScripts();
</script></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="a987f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="TKAZMY1563309718"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151190030037204996" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">A towering giant has fallen with the passing of legendary Singer-songwriter & Anthropologist Johnny Clegg. Our hear… https://t.co/00A4F97juL</div> — Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@Min. Nathi Mthethwa)<a href="https://twitter.com/NathiMthethwaSA/statuses/1151190030037204996">1563300065.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="e5490" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="YNX6EA1563309718"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151197705164722177" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">In a world that’s often divisive, myopic & unkind, there are good people who make an effort to know the other perso… https://t.co/4F6ykgljf5</div> — Lerato Mbele (@Lerato Mbele)<a href="https://twitter.com/Mbele_Roberts/statuses/1151197705164722177">1563301895.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="bfdc2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="23Y4NU1563309718"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151183620469428224" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">What a Blow! Johnny Clegg "umZulu omhlope" has passed away! To call you just a musician would be to fail you. You… https://t.co/iUcuoDaLWL</div> — Khanyi Magubane (@Khanyi Magubane)<a href="https://twitter.com/Khanyi_Magubane/statuses/1151183620469428224">1563298537.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="a9c07" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5CTY1C1563309718"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151194525215469570" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Condolences to Family and Friends of
Johnny Clegg -one of South Africa’s most celebrated sons. He was a singer, a… https://t.co/LY6Gs1JIKS</div> — South African Government (@South African Government)<a href="https://twitter.com/GovernmentZA/statuses/1151194525215469570">1563301137.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c8c6e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="OSPA6V1563309718"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151200559493505024" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">What an amazing life lived with a testimony that non-racialism is indeed possible. Rest easy Johnny Clegg....… https://t.co/lq8OTtbWYU</div> — Ice Tiye 🥃 (@Ice Tiye 🥃)<a href="https://twitter.com/sveveni/statuses/1151200559493505024">1563302576.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="4c677" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="SMCOYV1563309719"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151188670323613697" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Rest In Peace, Johnny Clegg. You are loved and revered. Thank you for being a musical and cultural unifier. ❤️🙏🏽❤️ https://t.co/06zD0zuSwG</div> — Poppy Ntshongwana (@Poppy Ntshongwana)<a href="https://twitter.com/PoppyIsMyName/statuses/1151188670323613697">1563299741.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="3d008" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="AOPYVN1563309719"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151186622521761792" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">RIP #JohnnyClegg. You were a bridge, a confluence of cultures, a unifier - never a divider. A great South African</div> — Barney Mthombothi (@Barney Mthombothi)<a href="https://twitter.com/mthombothi/statuses/1151186622521761792">1563299253.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="ed987" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="K1A3FN1563309719"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151219230391468034" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">This is my favourite song of #JohnnyClegg. https://t.co/LDYmyXFqG0</div> — Luzukō (@Luzukō)<a href="https://twitter.com/Luzukokoti/statuses/1151219230391468034">1563307027.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="bcf78" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0MBJS71563309719"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151187422681731073" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Rest in Peace to the great Johnny Clegg. You will be greatly missed. https://t.co/ZMpzxrtu4G</div> — Germinah Nyikana (@Germinah Nyikana)<a href="https://twitter.com/GerminahNyikana/statuses/1151187422681731073">1563299444.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="85528" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="P57NAK1563309719"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151184738310381568" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Rest in peace 🙏🏾 Baba Johnny Clegg... A true legend. #TheCrossing your messages through music, will live on 💔 https://t.co/ZMhU6WoxzH</div> — Nomvula Makhubu 🐆 (@Nomvula Makhubu 🐆)<a href="https://twitter.com/Chieflam/statuses/1151184738310381568">1563298804.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="7570a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="92F7XK1563309719"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151204918428098573" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Rest In Peace, your music will live on. ✊🏾 #JohnnyClegg https://t.co/fEkv7rnqtE</div> — Phumzile Van Damme (@Phumzile Van Damme)<a href="https://twitter.com/zilevandamme/statuses/1151204918428098573">1563303615.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="a695a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8WIRCI1563309719"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151193605031247872" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Welcome to the big gig in the sky legend. Respect. RIP #JohnnyClegg https://t.co/XX2hW0QF6m</div> — Barney Simon (@Barney Simon)<a href="https://twitter.com/BarneySimon/statuses/1151193605031247872">1563300918.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c6ceb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1Q6GFV1563309720"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1151199827394473984" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Watch: Johnny Clegg was taught isiZulu by a Domestic Worker, Charlie Mzila & in his teenage years he learnt isisham… https://t.co/V5ZRBq3mD0</div> — Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@Min. Nathi Mthethwa)<a href="https://twitter.com/NathiMthethwaSA/statuses/1151199827394473984">1563302401.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p>
Keep reading...
Show less