Remarks:
This came out in 1987 and became an anti-apatheid anthem. Clegg wrote it about Nelson Mandela being separated from South Africa. Mandela was then in prison on Robben Island, across the bay from Cape Town:
Oh the sea is cold and the sky is grey
Look across the Island into the Bay
We are all islands till comes the day
We cross the burning water
The chorus is in Zulu, the verses in English. The song is about Mandela, but it also mentions Steve Biko, Victoria Mxenge, and Neil Aggett, martyrs to the anti-apartheid cause.
In the video Clegg performs the song in Frankfurt, Germany in 1999. Mandela had since been freed and became president of South Africa – and is now able to join Clegg on stage.
When people tell me there will never be reparations, I also remember them telling me in the 1980s that apartheid will not end, not any time soon, that protesting against it was a waste of time.
Clegg passed away on July 16th.
Requiescat in pace.
See also:
- songs: the 1980s
- other anti-apartheid songs:
- Nelson Mandela
- Steve Biko
- Victoria Mxenge
- Neil Aggett
Lyrics:
[Chorus]
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang’ u Mandela thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’ehleli khona
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang’ u Mandela thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’ehleli khona
[Verse 1]
Oh the sea is cold and the sky is grey
Look across the Island into the Bay
We are all islands till comes the day
We cross the burning water
[Chorus]
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang’ u Mandela thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’ehleli khona
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang’ u Mandela thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’ehleli khona
[Verse 2]
A seagull wings across the sea
Broken silence is what I dream
Who has the words to close the distance
Between you and me
[Chorus]
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang’ u Mandela thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’ehleli khona
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang’ u Mandela thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’ehleli khona
[Verse 3]
Steven Biko
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang ‘umfowethu thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’wafela khona
Victoria Mxenge
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang ‘umfowethu thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’wafela khona
Neil Aggett
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang ‘umfowethu thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’wafela khona
Hey wena
Hey wena nawe
Siyofika nini la’ siyakhona, la’siyakhona
[Chorus]
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang’ u Mandela thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’ehleli khona
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang’ u Mandela thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’ehleli khona
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang’ u Mandela thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’ehleli khona
Asimbonanga
Asimbonang’ u Mandela thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’ehleli khona
Source: Genius Lyrics.
‘When people tell me there will never be reparations, I also remember them telling me in the 1980s that apartheid will not end, not any time soon’
Abagond, so beautiful and inspiring this song and video – thank you so much.
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Again, to see President Mandela smiling, dancing and singing with joy – such a gift for my eyes and ears.
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Rest in peace, Johnny Clegg!
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I guess we can remain hopeful about reparations in our lifetime. Perhaps it’s the same as we never thought we would see having a black man as POTUS and it is probably in the same vein as the black Africans didn’t think they would see the end of apartheid in S. Africa and seeing Mandela free from prison to become the President of their country.
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Why can’t we have an honest accounting? Dr. Verwoerd had a cool haircut, he was a great intellectual, and he had a lot of redeeming qualities about him also.
Yes, Mandela was imprisoned far too long, but Mugabe’s actions did not inspire confidence in black leadership among White South Africans.
The British bear the true responsibility for Mandela’s imprisonment. If they hadn’t stolen our Boer Republics from us against our will, without our permission, Mandela would have lived in the Cape Colony, which had a qualified franchise for black people. We would have had our Boer Republics for us, blacks would have had a qualified franchise in the Cape and Natal, and Mandela would have never been in prison.
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