Johnny Clegg the great artist of South Africa died this month. He was a singer, songwriter, poet, actor, political activist (in the anti-apartheid movement), polyglot, and anthropologist. But above all, he was a human who united people of different religions, colour of the skin, or social classes by his art. In the darkest days of racially segregated South Africa he managed to lift the spirit of the oppressed, humiliated and persecuted. He had learnt the Zulu language to submerge himself in the Zulu culture, especially in its music, poetry, dance and art. Some call him The Great Heart of Africa. Indeed, his songs sung in English and Zulu together with Zulu artists, his dancing on stage to the African rhythms and Zulu choreography has always been artistically supreme and deeply touching.
In a beautiful way he was able to mix the sounds and poetry of Africa and the West. In his songs, you can hear African rhythms and vibrations mixed with echoes of Californian ballads.
