Johnny Clegg – a symbol of unity
- Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University
A man who defied racial barriers and whose life exemplifies what it means to be human.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University joins the nation in mourning the passing of the legendary Johnny Clegg, a Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ alumnus and lecturer, whose life and work illustrate the multiculturalism and social integration that is envisaged in the South African Constitution.
A lifelong friend of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½, Johnny obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree and Bachelor of Arts: Honours at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University in 1977 and joined the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Social Anthropology Department to pursue an academic career for four years. He also wrote several seminal scholarly papers on Zulu music and dance over the years.
A dancer, anthropologist, singer, songwriter, academic, and activist – Clegg mastered both the Zulu language and the maskandi guitar and isishameni dance styles of the migrants while still in his mid-teens.
His celebrated career kicked off nearly 50 years ago at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University where he and his group performed in the non-racial Free People’s Concert held for the first time at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ in 1971. In an interview with the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Review Clegg reflected on his times at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and the fight for a free South Africa.
In 2007 the University bestowed its highest honour - an honorary doctorate in music on Clegg for his contribution.
Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University extends its deepest condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.
A true, brave South African hero has fallen, but his music and art will remain with us and serve as a gift for generations to come.