Johnny Clegg and Savuka
| Savuka | |
|---|---|
Savuka, 1993.
L-R: Derek De Beer, Mandisa Dlanga, Solly Letwamba, Johnny Clegg, Steve Mavuso, Keith Hutchinson |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Genres | World music, Afro pop, rock, Zulu music |
| Years active | 1986–1994 |
| Labels | EMI, Capitol |
| Associated acts | Juluka |
| Past members |
Johnny Clegg Derek de Beer Keith Hutchinson Jabu Mavuso Steve Mavuso Dudu Zulu Solly Letwaba Mandisa Dlanga |
Savuka, occasionally referred to as Johnny Clegg & Savuka, was a multi-racial South African band formed in 1986 by Johnny Clegg after the disbanding of Juluka. Savuka's music blended traditional Zulu musical influences with Celtic music and Rock music that had a cross-racial appeal in South Africa. Their lyrics were often bilingual in English and Zulu and they wrote several politically charged songs, particularly related to apartheid. Some better-known Savuka songs include "Asimbonanga", and "Third World Child", from their 1987 album of the same name. Band percussionist Dudu Zulu was killed in 1992; their song "The Crossing" was a tribute to him.
Johnny Clegg was born to an English family that moved to Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe) when he was still a child. Clegg became interested in Zulu traditional music when he was a teenager, and sought out musicians who could teach him, including Mntonganazo Mzila, a Zulu street musicians and apartment clear. A few years later he approached Sipho Mchunu, who was working as a gardener; though Mchunu was initially puzzled by Clegg (whose interest in Zulu music was unusual for a white South African), began to teach Clegg, and formed a musical duo with him that performed between 1970 and 1976. In 1979 they release an album called Universal Men, calling themselves Juluka (Zulu for "sweat"). During this period Clegg also learned the Zulu language, as well as Zulu dance forms. Juluka faced difficulties in their early years because apartheid-era South Africa had laws prohibiting a mixed group from performing to a white audience, or on occasion preventing the duo from being on stage together, which led to them experiencing frequent harassment from the police. Juluka has often been credited with being the first mixed-race band in South Africa, though Clegg has disputed this, stating that several mixed groups existed in the 1950s.
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