Johnny Clegg

by Craig Harris
The white, English-speaking, society and Black, African, culture of South Africa was brought together by Johnny Clegg. Together with Sipho Mchunu, a Zulu musician who came to Johannesburg in search of work, Clegg formed South Africas first multi-racial band, Juluka. In the seven years that they were initally together, the band recorded two platinum and five gold albums and became an international success. Following the groups disbanding in 1986, Clegg continued to blend African music with European pop influences with the band, Savuka. Reunited with Mchunu in the mid-1990s, Clegg reformed Juluka and toured throughout the world as opening act for King Sunny Ade. A native of Lancashire, England, Clegg moved to Africa as a youngster. Although he temporarily lived in Zimbabwe and Zambia, he eventually settled, with his family, in South Africa. Starting guitar at the age of fourteen, Clegg was introduced to South African music when he heard a street musician, Mntonganazo Mzila. Enchanted by what he heard, Clegg apprenticed himself to Mzila for two years, learning the basics of Zulu music and Inhlangwini dancing. Soon after meeting Sipho Mchunu and forming Juluka, Clegg recorded his debut single, Waza Friday. Although racial prejudice in South Africa prevented their first album, Universal Man, from attaining radio airplay, the album became a word of mouth hit. Their second album, African Litany, released in 1981, included the South African hit, Impi. Two years later, Juluka attracted international acclaim for their album, Scatterling. The political climate of South Africa began to take its tollon the group in the mid-1980s. By 1985, Clegg and Mchunu seperated with Mchunu returning to his homeland to work on his farm. Cleggs second band, Savuka, which took its name from the Zulu word meaning we have risen or we have awakened, took a more pop-minded approach to African music. The groups debut album, Third World Child, sold more than two million copies. Following their second album, Shadow Man, the band embarked on a world tour, opening shows for Steve Winwood in the United States and George Michael in Canada. Savuka reached its peak with its fourth album, Heat, Dust And Dreams, which was nominated for a Grammy in the best world music category and received a Billboard music award as Best World Music Album.