Flash track of the day: Johnny Clegg & Savuka 'Great Heart'
Johnny Clegg & Savuka - Third World Child (1987)
That these musicians didn't get much more attention is one of the biggest injustices of pop culture for me.
Today people rather remember David Hasselhoff who sang at the fall of the Berlin Wall. 🤯 But he didn't have to risk anything for it and the memory culture in this case happens rather ironically. But "‘hird World Child’ is a real protest album, which was created under the impression and control of apartheid in South Africa. 🇿🇦 The fact that there was a group in the 80s that could produce this kind of crossover sound with political lyrics, that alone is an extraordinary achievement. They were also the first to explicitly mention the name Mandela despite the ban and demand his release.
During this time there were many anti apartheid movements in the Western world. In retrospect, however, the one from England seems particularly backward. At concerts in the Wembley Stadium, where Sting and Peter Gabriel were celebrated for their system criticism, this band could not perform. With the stupid reason that people would not understand why a mixed race group from South Africa could exist at all. What a scandal. 😤
Johnny Clegg, who was born in England and grew up in apartheid and spread so much courage and love with his band, was not invited. Moreover, the record can easily keep up with works like ‘Graceland’. Songs like ‘Scatterlings Of Africa’, ‘Asimbonanga (Mandela)’, ‘Great Heart’, ‘Third World Chil’ and ‘Don't Walk Away’ are absolutely great. And they also had a song about the Berlin Wall on the album. Even David Hasselhoff can only pay tribute to that. 😉 This album is a unique contemporary document and should finally get the respect it deserves. 🙌
Johnny Clegg & Savuka 'Great Heart' is part of the ‘Flash Track Of The Day’ playlist on Spotify. Feel free to follow anytime.
