Anthem for Uncle Bob

It is impossible to put Johnny Clegg into a category, his musical fusion of Zulu and western music, is completely unique and he and he describes himself as more than a musician, he says he is a cultural activist.
His latest project has been touring and headlining concerts for Nelson Mandela’s AIDs campaign.
“It’s been wonderful to be a part of something that this so much bigger than the music – both the man and the cause make for a powerful mixture, he said.
“There is a tremendous amount of AIDs denialism going on in South Africa. Mandela made a powerful state intervention and said that HIV was no longer a health issue, it was a Human Rights issue,” he said.
Johnny is no stranger to advocating Human Rights. During apartheid he took a stand with his music and his fellow performers.
“As an anti-apartheid activist, you live in a day to day basis. In a situation where you have an oppressive regime to have to make plans. You have a show stopped but you think: ‘I managed to play five songs and this time they didn’t use tear gas or dogs’.
The South African was born in Britain but spent the first seven years of his life in Zimbabwe. He says that he feels a special affinity for the country and its people. “I have an emotional connection with Zimbabwe because I lived there for the first seven years of my life. I look at the country and have a special place in my heart for it,” he said.
In his new album, one of his songs stands out as a stark warning to Robert Mugabe. Titled The Revolution will eat its children: Anthem for Uncle Bob he sings about how Mugabe rose to power on promises of a better life but turned against his people. He warns that the people will rise up against the revolutionary leader.
He says that in his long career, there have been many highs and many lows. The most significant memory is of a gig he played in 1997 in Frankfurt for about 3,000 German NGOs.
“I played my set and was called back for an encore so I played Asimbonanga. In the middle of the song there was a roar from the crowd and I thought that drummer behind me had fallen down or something.
“I turned around and there was Nelson Mandela himself. He had walked onstage. I was flabbergasted. I carried on playing the song. I was so nervous. Afterwards I gave him the mike and he said: “Music makes me at peace with the world and music makes me at peace with myself.’ And with a twinkle in his eye he turned to me and said: ‘Johnny lets start again.’ So so we started up the song again.
It was the most astonishing moment for me because in 1986 when I wrote this song, I had no clue that 11 years later I would be playing in it Germany and the man himself would be on stage with me.”
Johnny Clegg will be performing in London on 28 and 29 August
Venue: The Forum, 9-17 Highgate Rd, Kentish Town, London, NW5 1JY
Ticket: £25
www.clegginlondon.com