Johnny Clegg statue unveiled

“As a Pedi Man from rural Limpopo, I must say I never imagined that I could deeply connect with Zulu songs, but Johnny Clegg made it possible for me, through songs like the one I just sang."

These were the words of Sepheu Tau Masemola, chairperson of the National Heritage Council, after singing Asimbonanga, a song by the late musician Johnny Clegg who has been honoured with a life-sized bronze statue in the Long March to Freedom exhibition in Century City.

Mr Masemola was one of the guests who spoke during the unveiling of the statue on Thursday March 27.

He said Mr Clegg's music bridged cultural divides, showing the world that music has no borders.

“Asimbonanga, dedicated to former President Nelson Mandela during his imprisonment, became an anthem for freedom worldwide. Who can forget that unforgettable moment when Johnny performed alongside Madiba himself after his release? It was a moment that brought hope and triumph, not just for South Africans but humanity as a whole,” said Mr Masemola.

He said it was fitting for the National Heritage Council to be part of the ceremony, unveiling the statue of a son of the soil. He said for many South Africans who endured life under the Apartheid regime, Mr Clegg stands out as an iconic activist for human rights and social welfare.

“His artistic and unwavering support are heard through his beautiful lyrics of uplifting maskandi music, inspiring hope and aspiration to overcome the mentality of colonialism and Apartheid.” 

Mr Masemola said Mr Clegg's humanity continues to epitomise the spirit of Ubuntu.

“Johnny Clegg was not just a patriotic South African but a true African, who embraced being African unashamedly and remained true to his Africanness, unlike many of us today, who suffer from a selective amnesia, where we choose to embrace Africanness and Ubuntu when it's convenient. Even at the dark days of Apartheid, at its very apex, the white Zulu truly fulfilled his deep conviction of transformation of the political and cultural landscape of South Africa, way before the popular notion of transformation was adopted by the Government of National Unity post-1994,” said Mr Masemola.

Johnny Clegg’s son Jarron Clegg said his father was not just a musician or a performer, but was a story-teller, a bridge-builder whose dance style carried meaning.

“There was a form of connection, a language of its own. When he danced he was not just expressing himself, he was reaching out, breaking barriers and inviting us all into something that is larger than ourselves. Today as we stand before the statue, we are reminded of that magic” said Jarron.

On behalf of his family, he expressed his gratitude to Long March to Freedom and artists Xhanti Mpakama and Barry Jackson for their effort to keep his father’s spirit alive through the sculpture. He said the sculpture is more than a monument but a piece of his father. 

“Many know my father's connection to Zulu culture. He wasn't born into it but embraced it fully, he was accepted, not as a performer and an ambassador, but as a brother. Music and dance were not just something he performed on stage; they involved every rhythm of his life. When the weight of the world pressed down on him, when his mind was restless or having a rough day, he would step outside and pick up his Zulu sticks and Zulu shield and step into his dance.” said Jarron.

Journalist and anti- Apartheid activist, Max du Preez, described Johnny Clegg as a decent human being. He said Mr Clegg's statue was placed between two spiritual men, the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and late cleric Beyers Naude, and that Mr Clegg was also a spiritual man, but unlike the two who were priests of Jesus, Johnny was a priest of love and rock and roll. 

“Imagine someone like Johnny being our ambassador to the United States of America right now to soften the Trump madness. We need him today as a perfect antidote to white victimhood and division in our society,” said Mr Du Preez.

He described Johnny Clegg as his brother and comrade.