I was always dismissive of Juluka. A mixed race cross-over band from South Africa. Not pure enough for me, too poppy. I was into hardcore township stuff.
But I think I did Johnny Clegg and Juluka a disservice. From the Guardian obit – Clegg’s reputation as a “Zulu guitarist” led to a meeting with self-taught street musician Sipho Mchunu, another migrant worker, and the pair went on to found the band Juluka, which means “sweat” in Zulu.
This was brave stuff in an era of apartheid where this sort of interaction risked regular bashings at a minimum. Importantly the band opened the eyes of many whites in Sth Africa to the joys of indigenous music. A friend of mine who runs Matsuli Records which specialises in reissuing rare out of print Sth African jazz used this very term” opened my eyes” in respect of seeing Juluka.Clearly they were politically, musically, indeed culturally important in South Africa and Johnny Clegg was a brave and gifted individual.
So respect and I’m sorry I was such as snob. I will post my favourite song below.
