Biko (song)
Encyclopedia
"Biko" is a protest song
by British rock musician Peter Gabriel
. The song was included on Gabriel's third album, Peter Gabriel (1980). It is about Steve Biko
, a noted black South African anti-apartheid activist. Biko had been arrested by the South African police in late August 1977. After being held in custody for several days, he was interrogated in room 619 of the Walmer Street prison in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
. Following the interrogation, during which he sustained serious head injuries, Biko was transferred to a prison in Pretoria
, where he died shortly afterwards, on 12 September 1977. Gabriel often plays the song at the end of concerts, encouraging the audience to join in the singing, and eventually leaving only the drummer on stage. The album version of the song is bookended by a recording of the South African song “Senzeni Na?
” as sung at Biko’s funeral.
"Biko" was first released as a single in 1980, when it reached #38 on the British charts
. A live version, recorded in July 1987 at the Blossom Music Center
in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
, was released later that year, reaching #49 in the UK. A newly recorded version of the song (again by Gabriel) was used to promote the Richard Attenborough
Biko biopic Cry Freedom
, and its music video (which consisted mostly of clips from the film) was in heavy rotation on MTV
during the film's premiere and run. Strangely however, neither this nor any version of the song was included in the film itself or on its soundtrack
.
"Biko" was also featured prominently in "Evan", the next-to-last episode of the first season of the American television show Miami Vice
.
One line of the lyrics reads "Yehla Moya" which in Xhosa
means "Come Spirit".
released his version in 1984 on his E.P. "Work In Progress" (Rough Trade RTT149). Simple Minds
released a cover version on their 1989 album Street Fighting Years
. It was also covered by Black 47 and Joan Baez
on her 1987 album Recently
and by Manu Dibango
on his 1994 album Wakafrika. Steve Van Zandt stated that he was inspired by this song to write his 1985 anti-apartheid protest song "Sun City
", performed by Artists United Against Apartheid
. The organization Playing for Change
did a cover of the song for their album Songs Around the World. TV on the Radio has also performed a cover of this song. In February 2010 Paul Simon
covered the song in collaboration with Peter Gabriel on his current project "Scratch My Back / I'll Scratch Yours".. U2 also played the song durign his 360° tour.
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
by British rock musician Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
. The song was included on Gabriel's third album, Peter Gabriel (1980). It is about Steve Biko
Steve Biko
Stephen Biko was a noted anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s. A student leader, he later founded the Black Consciousness Movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population. Since his death in police custody, he has been called a martyr of the...
, a noted black South African anti-apartheid activist. Biko had been arrested by the South African police in late August 1977. After being held in custody for several days, he was interrogated in room 619 of the Walmer Street prison in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
Port Elizabeth is one of the largest cities in South Africa, situated in the Eastern Cape Province, east of Cape Town. The city, often shortened to PE and nicknamed "The Friendly City" or "The Windy City", stretches for 16 km along Algoa Bay, and is one of the major seaports in South Africa...
. Following the interrogation, during which he sustained serious head injuries, Biko was transferred to a prison in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, where he died shortly afterwards, on 12 September 1977. Gabriel often plays the song at the end of concerts, encouraging the audience to join in the singing, and eventually leaving only the drummer on stage. The album version of the song is bookended by a recording of the South African song “Senzeni Na?
Senzeni Na?
“Senzeni Na?” is a South African anti‐apartheid folk song. The Xhosa/Zulu language song is commonly sung at funerals, demonstrations and in churches...
” as sung at Biko’s funeral.
"Biko" was first released as a single in 1980, when it reached #38 on the British charts
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. A live version, recorded in July 1987 at the Blossom Music Center
Blossom Music Center
Blossom Music Center is an amphitheatre located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The pavilion seats 5,700 people, with space for about 13,500 more on the lawn. It is the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra, which performs its annual Blossom Festival there. The venue is also host to a full summer...
in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,374 people, 21,655 households, and 13,317 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,932.9 people per square mile . There were 22,727 housing units at an average density of 889.7 per square mile...
, was released later that year, reaching #49 in the UK. A newly recorded version of the song (again by Gabriel) was used to promote the Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
Biko biopic Cry Freedom
Cry Freedom
Cry Freedom is a 1987 British drama film directed by Richard Attenborough, set in the late 1970s, during the apartheid era of South Africa. It was written from a screenplay by John Briley based on a pair of books by journalist Donald Woods...
, and its music video (which consisted mostly of clips from the film) was in heavy rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
during the film's premiere and run. Strangely however, neither this nor any version of the song was included in the film itself or on its soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
.
"Biko" was also featured prominently in "Evan", the next-to-last episode of the first season of the American television show Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Miami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
.
One line of the lyrics reads "Yehla Moya" which in Xhosa
Xhosa language
Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa. Xhosa is spoken by approximately 7.9 million people, or about 18% of the South African population. Like most Bantu languages, Xhosa is a tonal language, that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different meanings when said...
means "Come Spirit".
Cover versions
Robert WyattRobert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt is an English musician, and founding member of the influential Canterbury scene band Soft Machine, with a long and distinguished solo career...
released his version in 1984 on his E.P. "Work In Progress" (Rough Trade RTT149). Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
released a cover version on their 1989 album Street Fighting Years
Street Fighting Years
Street Fighting Years is the eighth studio album by Simple Minds, released in 1989.Produced by Trevor Horn and Stephen Lipson, the album was a major stylistic departure from the previous album, 1985's Once Upon A Time, While still maintaining the epic arena-rock sense of scale and drama which the...
. It was also covered by Black 47 and Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
on her 1987 album Recently
Recently (Joan Baez album)
Recently was a 1987 album by Joan Baez. At the time of its release, it was the performer's first album of new material issued in the U.S. in eight years...
and by Manu Dibango
Manu Dibango
-External links:*...
on his 1994 album Wakafrika. Steve Van Zandt stated that he was inspired by this song to write his 1985 anti-apartheid protest song "Sun City
Sun City (song)
"Sun City" is a 1985 protest song written by Steven Van Zandt, produced by Van Zandt and Arthur Baker and recorded by Artists United Against Apartheid to convey opposition to the South African policy of apartheid...
", performed by Artists United Against Apartheid
Artists United Against Apartheid
Artists United Against Apartheid was a 1985 protest group founded by activist and performer Steven Van Zandt and record producer Arthur Baker to protest apartheid in South Africa...
. The organization Playing for Change
Playing for Change
Playing for Change is a multimedia music project created by the American producer and sound engineer Mark Johnson with his Timeless Media Group, that seeks to bring together musicians from around the world...
did a cover of the song for their album Songs Around the World. TV on the Radio has also performed a cover of this song. In February 2010 Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
covered the song in collaboration with Peter Gabriel on his current project "Scratch My Back / I'll Scratch Yours".. U2 also played the song durign his 360° tour.