This is the third mixtape in our four-part series accompanying the book Johnny Clegg : Critical Reflections on His Music and Influence. This collection focuses especially on covers of Johnny Clegg songs, and on his collaborations with other musicians. The mix begins with Johnny Clegg’s first single release, “Sengikhumbula Emakhabe Leni” from 1976. While this doesn’t constitute a collaboration as a song, it was a collaborative release with a Sipho Mchunu song (“Baba Ungadlali Ngomama”) on the other side. This is followed by an early collaborative release with Sipho Mchunu, “Omama Basemhlabeni”, the B-side of their hit single “Woza Friday”, released in 1977. Also from 1977 is Paul Clingman’s “Sweet Rivers” which was written by Clingman and Clegg and features Clegg on backing vocals (and Sipho Mchunu on concertina). Roger Lucey’s “Thabane” is from his 1979 album, The Road Is Much Longer and features Clegg on the umrhubhe mouthbow. We also feature a ‘Taxi Jam’ by Johnny and Sipho, recorded and filmed in a taxi driving around central Johannesburg. You can watch the video on YouTube.
The mixtape then turns to a series of our favourite covers of Johnny Clegg songs (Juluka, Savuka, and solo) by a wide range of local and international artists: James Leigh, Afroblue, Jimmy Buffet, Lori Ruso, Sam Bush, Nano Stern, Soweto Gospel Choir, Not The Midnight Mass, Springbok Nude Girls, Velile, and Mapaputsi. “Fire In The House” by USA band Walk The Moon features Johnny and Jesse Clegg and was released as a single in September 2021. “Colour Of My Skin” was a collaboration with Angelique Kidjo taken from Johnny’s final album King Of Time (2017).
“Spirit Of The Great Heart” by Johnny Clegg and Friends features top South African musicians in a collaborative song in support of the Starfish Greathearts Foundation, an international development charity that has supported over 220 000 orphaned and vulnerable children across Southern Africa. You can also watch the video on YouTube. The mixtape ends with a collaborative song by many South African and a few international musicians (you can spot them in the video on YouTube). The song movingly covers Clegg’s song and was recorded in 2018. Proceeds from the song went to the ‘Friends of Johnny Clegg Fund’ for primary education.
- Sengikhumbula Emakhabe Leni – Johnathan Clegg
- Omama Basemhabeni – Jonathan & Sipho
- Sweet Rivers – Paul Clingman
- Thabane – Roger Lucey
- Thula ‘Mtanami (Taxi Jam) – Johnny Clegg & Sipho Mchunu
- Cruel Crazy Beautiful World – James Leigh
- Kilimanjaro – Afroblue
- Great Heart – Jimmy Buffet
- Rolling Ocean – Lori Ruso
- Dela – Shirley Kwan
- Spirit Is The Journey – Sam Bush
- Warsaw 1943 – Nano Stern
- Asimbonanga – Soweto Gospel Choir
- Impi – Not The Midnight Mass
- December African Rain – Springbok Nude Girls
- Jongosi – Velile
- Woza Friday – Mapaputsi
- Fire In The House – Walk The Moon
- Colour Of My Skin – Johnny Clegg & Angelique Kidjo
- Spirit Of The Great Heart – Johnny Clegg and Friends
- The Crossing – Friends of Johnny Clegg
