In the 1980s in particular, many artistes around the world decided to channel their protests into song. Manu openly called for an end to the 27-year detention of the late Nelson Mandela, campaigning for his release from Robben Island, where he was held as a political prisoner from 1962 to 1990.
From the fight to end apartheid and free Madiba, ten songs have stood the test of time. These are The Star Online's picks of ten songs that mark the anti-apartheid, free Mandela movement.
1) Gimme Hope Jo'anna by Eddy Grant (
This song, written and recorded by British reggae artiste Eddy Grant in 1988 spoke out against apartheid in South Africa. Still played on airwaves to this day it condemned the then-South African government's involvement in the Angolan Civil War and referenced the resistance to apartheid put up by Soweto, a Black township in Johannesburg - one of the meanings behind the "Jo'anna" in the song.
2) Sing Our Own Song, by UB40 (
This tune from the British reggae artistes was banned by the South African government for its anti-apartheid message. With lyrics such as "When the ancient drum rhythms ring/
The voice of our forefathers sings/ Forward Africa run our day of freedom has come
For me and for you Amandla Awethu (power to us)" it is clear to see the intent of this 1986 song which featured the rallying cry of Mandela's African National Congress.
3) Senzeni Na or What Have We Done (
Written originally in the 1950s, Senzeni Na was a Xhosa or Zulu protest song traditionally sang at funerals. The song, which peaked in popularity during the 1980s spoke of the brutality of South Africa's government in enforcing apartheid, with lyrics like "What have we done? Our sin is that we are black?/ Our sin is the truth./They are killing us./ Let Africa return."
4) Mandela by Youssou N'Dour (
N'Dour, a Senegalese griot released this song as part of his 1986 album "Nelson Mandela", a seminal release calling for Mandela's freedom.
5) It's Wrong by Stevie Wonder (
This song, released as part of Stevie Wonder's 1985 album In Square Circle earned the singer a blanket ban of all his music by the South African government. With lyrics like "You know apartheid's wrong (Qha), wrong (Qha)/ Like slavery was wrong (Qha), wrong (Qha)/
Like the holocaust was wrong (Qha), wrong (Qha)/ Apartheid is wrong (Qha), it's wrong (Qha), wrong" it is not hard to see why this song landed Stevie Wonder in the same boat as Eddy Grant and UB40.
6) Biko by Peter Gabriel (
Included in Gabriel's third album, "Peter Gabriel", this 1980 song told the true story of one of Mandela's followers, Steve Biko. Biko, who was 30 when he died on 12 September 1977 had sustained serious head injuries after several days of interrogation following his arrest in late August 1977.
7) Free Nelson Mandela by The Specials (
A song recorded in 1984 by the Coventry-based band The Specials, this upbeat protest song penned by The Specials frontman Jerry Dammers drew inspiration from South African music. Free Nelson Mandela reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart in the same year.
8) Black President by Brenda Fassie (
This song, recorded and released in 1989 by Afropop artiste Brenda Fassie called for listeners to embrace Mandela's unbreakable spirit despite his detention and forced labour at Robben Island. As Fassie sang; "They broke rocks/ But the spirit was never broken/ Never broken Oh no, my, my black president."
9) Freedom Now by Tracy Chapman (
Chapman, who released this song as part of her second album, Crossroads in 1989 also sang of Mandela's spirit and desire to end apartheid which remained unbroken despite his 27-year incarceration as a political prisoner. Chapman sang that although "They throwed him in jail/
And they kept him there/Hoping soon he'd die/That his body and spirit would waste away
And soon after that his mind" Mandela continued to inspire people in the street who would continue to press for freedom.
10. Sun City by Steve Van Zandt and Artists United Against Apartheid (
This 1985 ensemble song was kicked off by guitarist Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. Van Zandt pulled together artists from different genres, ranging from Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan to Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaata. Sun City refers to a resort city which offered big sums of money to entice celebrity performances in the 1980s.
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