Juluka
Encyclopedia
Juluka was a South Africa
n music band
formed in 1969 by Johnny Clegg
and Sipho Mchunu
. Juluka means "sweat", and was the name of a bull owned by Mchunu.
when the latter went there to find work. The 18 year-old Mchunu challenged the 16 year-old Clegg to a guitar contest, and the two became friends. Soon, they were performing together on the streets and in what few other unofficial venues a multi-racial band could safely play in under apartheid. They were forced to keep a low profile and their success came from word of mouth instead of through traditional publicity. Clegg himself was arrested and beaten up by the police on several occasions for his activities and also for the band's lyrics.
In 1976, they released their debut single, "Woza Friday", followed three years later by a critically acclaimed album, Universal Men
. The album's poetic lyrics were strongly influenced by John Berger
's A Seventh Man
as well as Pablo Neruda
and Jean-Paul Sartre
. Expanding to a quartet, they released a second album, African Litany
, in late 1981. The album's lead single, "Impi", with its pointedly political lyrics about a defeat of the colonial British army by the Zulus at the Battle of Isandlwana
, was banned by South African radio but became an underground hit. In contemporary South Africa it is often associated with national sports teams. The album garnered them their first international attention, and they were able to successfully tour in Europe
and North America
in 1982 and 1983. However, in June 1983, the British
music magazine, NME
, reported that they were initially banned by the Musicians Union as, ..."since it would not be possible to approve one of our bands working in South Africa, there is no possibility of an exchange". The ban was eventually lifted, with the group donating their fees to charity.
The group disbanded in 1985 when Mchunu moved back to the farm where he was born in Natal in order to take care of his family. Clegg went on to form a new band, Savuka
, with whom he achieved even greater international success. In 1997, however, the two friends came back for a final album together. It did not receive the critical acclaim of early Juluka albums like Universal Men, African Litany, Work for All and Scatterlings.
and mbaqanga
, popular musics native to South Africa, and western folk and rock. The band employed various instruments besides the guitar
and traditional Zulu instruments, such as the saxophone
and, later, synthesizers.
Lee Turner - Key board
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n music band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
formed in 1969 by Johnny Clegg
Johnny Clegg (musician)
Jonathan "Johnny" Clegg is a musician from South Africa, who has recorded and performed with his bands Juluka and Savuka. Sometimes called Le Zoulou Blanc , he is an important figure in South African popular music history, with songs that mix Zulu with English lyrics, and African with various...
and Sipho Mchunu
Sipho Mchunu
Sipho Mchunu is a Zulu musician best known for his partnership with 'white Zulu' Johnny Clegg in the band Juluka from the 1970s to the 1990s. Mchunu's Zulu compositions, vocals and guitar work brought traditional Zulu styles such as maskanda and mbaqanga to a wider crossover audience both in South...
. Juluka means "sweat", and was the name of a bull owned by Mchunu.
Career
At the age of 14, Clegg met Zulu street musician Charlie Mzila, who taught him Zulu music and dancing over the following two years. In 1969 Clegg and Mchunu met in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
when the latter went there to find work. The 18 year-old Mchunu challenged the 16 year-old Clegg to a guitar contest, and the two became friends. Soon, they were performing together on the streets and in what few other unofficial venues a multi-racial band could safely play in under apartheid. They were forced to keep a low profile and their success came from word of mouth instead of through traditional publicity. Clegg himself was arrested and beaten up by the police on several occasions for his activities and also for the band's lyrics.
In 1976, they released their debut single, "Woza Friday", followed three years later by a critically acclaimed album, Universal Men
Universal Men
Universal Men is the debut album from Juluka, a South African band led by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. It was first released in 1979 and has acquired the status of a classic album in the history of South African music....
. The album's poetic lyrics were strongly influenced by John Berger
John Berger
John Peter Berger is an English art critic, novelist, painter and author. His novel G. won the 1972 Booker Prize, and his essay on art criticism Ways of Seeing, written as an accompaniment to a BBC series, is often used as a university text.-Education:Born in Hackney, London, England, Berger was...
's A Seventh Man
A Seventh Man
A Seventh Man is a book, in the form of photography and text by John Berger and Jean Mohr, on migrant workers in Europe. It was first published in 1975....
as well as Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda was the pen name and, later, legal name of the Chilean poet, diplomat and politician Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. He chose his pen name after Czech poet Jan Neruda....
and Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy, particularly Marxism, and was one of the key figures in literary...
. Expanding to a quartet, they released a second album, African Litany
African Litany
African Litany is the second studio album from South African band Juluka, released in 1981. It features lyrics sung in English and zulu....
, in late 1981. The album's lead single, "Impi", with its pointedly political lyrics about a defeat of the colonial British army by the Zulus at the Battle of Isandlwana
Battle of Isandlwana
The Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom...
, was banned by South African radio but became an underground hit. In contemporary South Africa it is often associated with national sports teams. The album garnered them their first international attention, and they were able to successfully tour in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in 1982 and 1983. However, in June 1983, the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music magazine, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, reported that they were initially banned by the Musicians Union as, ..."since it would not be possible to approve one of our bands working in South Africa, there is no possibility of an exchange". The ban was eventually lifted, with the group donating their fees to charity.
The group disbanded in 1985 when Mchunu moved back to the farm where he was born in Natal in order to take care of his family. Clegg went on to form a new band, Savuka
Savuka
Savuka was a band formed in 1986 by English-born South African Johnny Clegg after the disbanding of his first band, Juluka. Both of his bands were inter-racial in the racially segregated Apartheid South Africa...
, with whom he achieved even greater international success. In 1997, however, the two friends came back for a final album together. It did not receive the critical acclaim of early Juluka albums like Universal Men, African Litany, Work for All and Scatterlings.
Music
The styles incorporated into Juluka's music are maskandaMaskanda
Maskanda is a kind of Zulu folk music that is evolving with South African society. describes it as "The music played by the man on the move, the modern minstrel, today’s troubadour. It is the music of the man walking the long miles to court a bride, or to meet with his Chief; a means of transport...
and mbaqanga
Mbaqanga
Mbaqanga is a style of South African music with rural Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today. The style originated in the early 1960s.-History:...
, popular musics native to South Africa, and western folk and rock. The band employed various instruments besides the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and traditional Zulu instruments, such as the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and, later, synthesizers.
Discography
- "Woza Friday" - 1976 (debut single)
- Universal MenUniversal MenUniversal Men is the debut album from Juluka, a South African band led by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. It was first released in 1979 and has acquired the status of a classic album in the history of South African music....
- 1979 - African LitanyAfrican LitanyAfrican Litany is the second studio album from South African band Juluka, released in 1981. It features lyrics sung in English and zulu....
- 1981 - Ubuhle BemveloUbuhle BemveloUbuhle Bemvelo is a studio album from Juluka, a South African band led by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. It was first released in 1982.The title means something like 'beauty of nature'.- Track listing :# Umfazi omdala 3'30# Dumazile 3'40...
- 1982 - ScatterlingsScatterlingsScatterlings is a studio album from Juluka, a South African band led by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. It was first released in 1982."Scatterlings of Africa", arguably the band's biggest hit , is featured on this album, lending it part of its name.-Personnel:* Johnny...
- 1982 - Work For AllWork for AllWork For All is a studio album from Juluka, a South African band led by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. It was first released in 1983 and rapidly achieved major success in South Africa where it is now remembered as a classic album in the history of South African music.While Clegg is known for the...
- 1983 - The International TracksThe International TracksThe International Tracks is a 1984 album collecting various singles and remixed tracks by Juluka, a South African band led by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. The songs on this album had all been previously released internationally but not in South Africa; hence the title...
- 1984 - Stand Your GroundStand Your Ground (Juluka)Stand Your Ground is a 1984 album by Juluka, a South African band led by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. The cover is the same as The International Tracks and the track listing shares four tracks with that album . The other six tracks are from the previously released 1983 album Work For All...
- 1984 - Musa UkungilandelaMusa UkungilandelaMusa Ukungilandela is a studio album from Juluka, a South African band led by England-born Johnny Clegg and the Zulu Sipho Mchunu.It was produced by Hilton Rosenthal and released in 1984, at a time when South Africa was under apartheid, which banned inter-racial bands...
- 1985 - The Good Hope ConcertsThe Good Hope ConcertsThe Good Hope Concerts is a live album from Juluka, a South African band led by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. It was first released in 1986. It was recorded at the Good Hope Centre in Cape Town...
- 1986 - Le Rock Zoulou de Johnny Clegg & Sipho Mchunu - 1988 (consisting of most of the tracks from Ubuhle Bemvelo and Musa Ukungilandela)
- Crocodile LoveCrocodile LoveCrocodile Love is a studio album from Juluka, a South African band led by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. It was first released in 1997. It was entitled Ya Vuka Inkunzi - The Bull has Risen in South Africa.- Track listing :...
- 1997 (released in South Africa as Ya Vuka Inkunzi)
Members (1979-1985)
- Sipho MchunuSipho MchunuSipho Mchunu is a Zulu musician best known for his partnership with 'white Zulu' Johnny Clegg in the band Juluka from the 1970s to the 1990s. Mchunu's Zulu compositions, vocals and guitar work brought traditional Zulu styles such as maskanda and mbaqanga to a wider crossover audience both in South...
- vocals, guitar, percussion (born 1951, Kranskop, South Africa) - Johnny Clegg - guitar, vocals (born 31 October 1953, RochdaleRochdaleRochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) - Cyril Mnculwane - keyboards (b. South Africa)
- Glenda Millar - keyboards (b. South Africa)
- Robbie JansenRobbie JansenRobert Edward Jansen was a South African musician and a folk hero in the Western Cape. He was born in Cape Town, South Africa.-Biography:...
- flute, saxophone - Scorpion Madondo - saxophone, flute (b. South Africa)
- Johnny Boshoff - bass
- Gary Van Zyl - bass (b. RiversdaleRiversdale, Western CapeRiversdale is a town located on the N2 highway between Cape Town and George on the Agulhas Coastal Plain of the southern Western Cape province of South Africa. It is an agricultural service orientated town, being a hub for shopping and other services for surrounding farming communities, smaller...
, South Africa) - Derek De Beer - drums (b. 1954, JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa)
Lee Turner - Key board