"Asimbonanga", also known as "Asimbonanga (Mandela)", is an anti-apartheid song by the South African racially integrated band

Savuka Savuka, occasionally referred to as Johnny Clegg & Savuka, was a multi-racial South African band formed in 1986 by Johnny Clegg after the disbanding of Juluka. Savuka's music blended traditional Zulu musical influences with Celtic music and ro ...

, from their 1987 album ''Third World Child''. It alluded to

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

, imprisoned on

Robben Island Robben Island ( af, Robbeneiland) is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town, South Africa. It takes its name from the Dutch word for seals (''robben''), hence the Dutch/Afrik ...

at the time of song's release, and other anti-apartheid activists. It was well received, becoming popular within the movement against apartheid, and was covered by several artists including

Joan Baez Joan Chandos Baez (; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing more ...

and the

Soweto Gospel Choir The Soweto Gospel Choir is a South African gospel group. History The Soweto Gospel Choir was formed in Soweto, South Africa, by David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryer, and producers Andrew Kay, David Vigo and Cliff Hocking in 2002. The more than 30- ...

Background, lyrics, and composition

The

Afrikaner Afrikaners () are a South African ethnic group descended from Free Burghers, predominantly Dutch settlers first arriving at the Cape of Good Hope in the 17th and 18th centuries.Entry: Cape Colony. ''Encyclopædia Britannica Volume 4 Part 2: ...

National Party (NP) was elected to power in South Africa in 1948, and remained in control of the government for the next 46 years. The white minority held all political power during this time, and implemented the system of

apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

was formed in 1985 by many of the members of the band

Juluka Juluka was a South African music band formed in 1969 by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. means "sweat" in Zulu, and was the name of a bull owned by Mchunu. The band was closely associated with the mass movement against apartheid. History At th ...

, often credited with being the first racially integrated band in South Africa, though frontman

Johnny Clegg Jonathan Paul Clegg, (7 June 195316 July 2019) was a South African musician, singer-songwriter, dancer, anthropologist and anti-apartheid activist, some of whose work was in musicology focused on the music of indigenous South African people ...

has stated that that was not the case. Savuka was also a mixed-race band, containing three black South Africans and three whites. Savuka, which means "awakening" in Zulu, played music that drew on Zulu traditions as well as on

Celtic music Celtic music is a broad grouping of music genres that evolved out of the folk music traditions of the Celtic people of Northwestern Europe. It refers to both orally-transmitted traditional music and recorded music and the styles vary considerab ...

and rock music, and became popular with both black and white South Africans. Black South African leader

was imprisoned on

in 1962. "Asimbonanga" was written while he was still in prison, and its lyrics alluded to his absence from society, as well as mentioning other anti-apartheid activists by name, including

Steve Biko Bantu Stephen Biko (18 December 1946 – 12 September 1977) was a South African anti-apartheid activist. Ideologically an African nationalist and African socialist, he was at the forefront of a grassroots anti-apartheid campaign known ...

(who was also the subject of the 1980

Peter Gabriel Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and activist. He rose to fame as the original lead singer of the progressive rock band Genesis. After leaving Genesis in 1975, he launched ...

’s song " Biko"),

Victoria Mxenge Victoria Nonyamezelo Mxenge (1 January 1942, in King William's Town, Eastern Cape – 1 August 1985, in Umlazi, Durban, Natal) was a South African anti-apartheid activist; she was trained as a nurse and midwife, and later began practising law. ...

and

Neil Aggett Neil Aggett (6 October 1953 – 5 February 1982) was a doctor and trade union organiser who was killed, while in detention, by the Security Branch of the Apartheid South African Police Service after being held for 70 days without trial. Life a ...

. The song, described as "elegiac", included choruses sung in Zulu and verses sung in English. The title of the song translates approximately to "We can't see him" or "We have not seen him", and refers to the "need South Africans had for their persecuted icon." "Asimbonanga" has been described as part of a trend that emerged within South African music after the 1976 Soweto uprising, of combining politically conscious lyrics with jive and dance rhythms. This style has been variously called "township jive", "township soul", and "bubblegum."

Release, reception and performances

The song was the second track on Savuka's album ''

Third World Child ''Third World Child'' is a studio album by South African artist Johnny Clegg and his band Savuka, released in 1987 and produced by Hilton Rosenthal. Incorporating both Zulu and English lyrics, as well as political songs, it was the album which ...

'', released in 1987. Johnny Clegg was credited as the composer for the song, as with the rest of the album. The song was a best-seller in France, reaching No. 2 on the singles chart. "Asimbonanga" became among the most popular

anti-apartheid songs The apartheid regime in South Africa began in 1948 and lasted until 1994. It involved a system of institutionalized racial segregation and white supremacy, and placed all political power in the hands of a White South African, white minority. ...

, and was adopted as an anthem by the

United Democratic Front (South Africa) The United Democratic Front (UDF) was a South African popular front that existed from 1983 to 1991. The UDF comprised more than 400 public organizations including trade unions, students' unions, women's and parachurch organizations. The UDF' ...

. It has been described as among "three of the most incredible songs" written by Clegg. The music magazine ''The Crisis'' called it a "beautiful chant to Nelson Mandela", while scholar David Coplan called it a "haunting tribute". The explicit dedication of the song to Mandela, Biko, and others led to the band experiencing trouble with the police; their concerts were raided, and they were arrested repeatedly. Clegg's interest in Zulu traditional music and his work with Zulu musician

Sipho Mchunu Sipho Mchunu (born 1951, Kranskop, South Africa) is best known for his work in the band Juluka from the 1970s to the 1980s. Mchunu's compositions, vocals and guitar work brought Zulu folk styles such as maskanda and mbaqanga to a wider audience b ...

had previously gotten him into trouble with the apartheid government. ''Asimbonanga'' was among several of his songs that were banned in South Africa. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including

, who included it on her recording ''

Recently ''Recently'' may refer to: * ''Recently'' (album), by Joan Baez * ''Recently'' (EP), by Dave Matthews Band {{Disambig ...

''. Though Baez sang in her customary vocal style, the track included backing vocals drawn from traditional South African music, arranged by

Caiphus Semenya Caiphus Semenya (born 19 August 1939) is a South African composer and musician. He was born in Alexandra, Gauteng, Johannesburg, South Africa. He left South Africa for Los Angeles, California, United States, in the 1960s, together with his wife ...

. The track brought Baez a nomination for a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

. Another notable cover was by the

, who performed it as a

flash mob A flash mob (or flashmob) is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform for a brief time, then quickly disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, and artistic expression. Flash mobs may be organized via t ...

in 2013. At the

Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute The Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute was held in Hyde Park, London on 27 June 2008 to commemorate Nelson Mandela's ninetieth birthday (18 July). The concert formed part of the 46664 concert series to promote awareness of the HIV/AIDS ...

concert in London in 2008, Clegg, Baez, and the Soweto Gospel Choir performed the song together. At a 1999 performance by Clegg, Mandela joined the band on stage for their performance of "Asimbonanga", and danced while the song was played. After the song ended, Mandela stated "It is music and dancing that makes me at peace with the world," and asked the band to play it again. The track was included on the collection ''Sounds from Soweto'', which contained music from ten different artists.

References

{{authority control Anti-apartheid songs 1987 songs Macaronic songs Savuka songs