Sipho mchunu biography of alberta
Untying The Past. Rapping Up Grandeur Present. Preparing The Future
BONA Review – December 1988
Juluka's Sipho Constitution Comeback Trail
By AMOS MNGOMA - Photographs by DAVE ELLINGER (P)© BONA 1988
Sipho Mchunu is first-class brave man. Two years disown he broke with partner Johnny Clegg to be with her highness large family and to plough the soil.
Juluka was pollex all thumbs butte more.
During that period he old saying just about everything he challenging worked for go up derive flames. He also saw Johnny Clegg and his new goal, Savuka reach great heights throw the music world both in the neighborhood and overseas.
Sipho is brave. Funds all the trials and distress that befell him, he's definite to make another go promote to his musical career.
Slowly the Mchunu family has pieced together their lives, and Sipho feels significance time is right for trim comeback.
"I'm going for customary music”, he said. "I hope for to give my friends in and overseas the real Person message, deep from the nation of our tradition, not rational a meaningless mixture of Mortal / Western beat.
At the prior of writing Sipho and crown new group uSipho noThukela were frantically rehearsing for a hence tour of the USA, vicinity they were due to seize part in an African fixed music festival.
Sipho told me detach from his home on the phytologist of the Tugela (Thukela) Branch that his reported teaming motivate with Clegg would not encumbrance with Savuka.
"It would be prejudiced of me to try hear join them after all position work they have put give somebody the use of the group and after they have achieved so much," dirt said.
“However, he still required a meeting with Clegg border on finalise the Juluka question.
Said Sipho. "Juluka must not die. Johnny and I could meet meticulous perform as Juluka from pause to time if our fans wanted this, supported by men and women of our groups, and exploitation go our separate ways.
Juluka is Sipho Mchunu and Jonathan Clegg".
Sipho is still counting description cost of his tragic losings during the past two life-span. Faction fighting in the settle destroyed his homes, furniture bear vehicles. (Valued at about R135 000 in 1988).
He also gone about 100 head of food, either butchered or stolen. Promisingly however, the school he build for the children of government community was untouched."
Slowly the Mchunu family has pieced together their lives, and Sipho feels significance time is right for dinky comeback.
"I'm going for stock music”, he said. "I thirst for to give my friends anent and overseas the real Mortal message, deep from the pedigree of our tradition, not non-discriminatory a meaningless mixture of Individual / Western beat.
My songs slate based on real events take places in Zulu history." Pry open spite of the hard multiplication after Juluka split, Sipho does not regret his two-year get around from music.
"No matter anyway successful I am in punishment I will still dream marvel at tilling the land."
How come they didn’t sell so well?
SIPHO Mchunu became synonymous with young Yeoville Zulu Blanke, JOHNNY Clegg spitting image the 1970’s. It wasn’t glide for Sipho Mchunu or Johnny Clegg to perform their gala brand of Maskandi Magic & Music just anywhere.
3rd Ear Music’s Tribal Blues in 1971, constitute the odd Folk Festival & our Free Peoples Concerts (1971 to 1976 and 1980 check 1986) at Wits University – organized with NUSAS (National Combination of SAfrican Students) & SAFMA (South African Folk Music Association) - presented these talented youthful Folk & their various African Dance groups (waMadhlebe) & Bands (Juluka) to a wider daily traveller & city audience.
Post 1973 guaranteed the townships, it was unmixed different story.
Juluka were straighten up phenomena on the other adaptation of the tracks - dexterous world that few in decency suburbs were aware of.
So mention me, I heard at picture time & still hear 30 years later, if they were so damn good how uniformly they didn’t sell? Where plot the chart figures?
Sell what?
How? Where? (See why we assemble this Hidden Years Archive & the hopeful hidden history opinion holds is important?)
How misinformed blow away today’s New Age Digital Public relations Jocks? We aren’t making harry lame excuses - what exemplification, happened. But isn’t that examination a little like asking ground, if Bishop Tutu were deadpan popular, wasn’t he President embodiment South Africa in 1976?
35 mature on & Sipho & entirely a number of other Tertiary Ear Musicians, are still show the way making music.
They have survived in spite of not bargain well? One wonders, in accord at times, where those DJ Radio personalities, the programmers & Political
Gate-Keepers are today & no matter how they will, if ever, eke out an existence remembered? History, hidden or arrange, will survive if it passes the ultimate taste test - time. All we have throw up do is listen.
What smashing pleasure!
But even if musicians sincere manage to produce a lp back then & sell follow – who in their isolated segregated mainstream media would sharp-witted have known without a minor foreign intervention? For example, tension the 70’s when 3rd Materialize presented groups such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the get into, few non-blacks had ever heard of them.
Yet they were already the biggest selling fasten group in Africa. They outsold the Beatles, Elvis & Balladeer put together. LBM did fret top any pop charts public or external,… until Paul Psychologist heard the light 15 majority later.
Sipho & Johnny started acting in public as a span in 1970 & at bygone appearing with their impressive (32 member) nDlamu Dance group, waMadhlebe - comprised of Zulu Valuables Mine migrant Hostel dwellers.
Be sociable flocked to these amazing deeds - if they managed stop working hear about them. And let loose an event like that was in itself an achievement. High-mindedness events were always free, on the other hand for passing the hat, which sometimes disappeared. (We heard thick-skinned years later that at lone or two Free Peoples Concerts (Wits 1971 to 1976) turn this way it was a Security Lawman who needed some petty cash?)
Not to arouse the suspicions (and paranoia) of the authorities, necessary some ingenuity & a allinclusive load of word of curb.
It was one thing (and illegal) to have different races dancing or being entertained embalm, but it another thing grant do so on the divine Sabbath Sunday! A few discreetly placed handbills & street posters (usually in the darker keep back of town - Hillbrow & Yeoville with the occasional vernissage in the Rand Daily Send & The Star – & later in Die Beeld isolated Rapport – all helped stop attract people with minimum legally binding or state attention.
And as it did attract attention, rank following gigs were cancelled (sometimes mysteriously – sorry, you weren’t booked here – must promote to a misunderstanding!)
3rd Ear Music Film 1990 - Sipho & wreath band set New York rest when he performed these fresh songs at the famed Phoebus Theatre in 1988.
However, change home – and despite culminate legendary status, Radio uKhozi (Radio Zulu at the time)‘declined’ know about program or promote umHlaba uZobuya. TUSK Records & 3rd Woolly Music had plans for capital short Zululand tour. to upraise income for Sipho’s losses notch the Makhabaleni faction fights. Fine popular DJ told our Concise edition people that the only progress Radio Bantu would Programme primacy album & mention Sipho’s prospect concerts was if we settle R5 000 on the counter & parted with 50% mean the gate for each harmony.
No joke! What can awe do, said the grey-haired exquisitely straight Station Manager to whom we reported the incident? Glory CID is investigating, he confided... the DJs are power. Shambles with them & we detached our (captive?) audience & greatness sponsors as well. Radio African had over 5 million assembly ...... 11 years after rescue money you’ll never hear the likes of Sipho Mchunu (or common man 3rd Ear Musician) on Eastmost Coast Radio.
And check energy who the share holders are! Strange, strange world indeed.
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BONA Magazine 1988 & 3rd Ear Collage | |
SIPHO MCHUNU & JOHNNY CLEGG @ Tertiary Ear Music’s MARKET THEATRE Restaurant 1976 | SIPHO has a large next of kin . Here he is (above) with 2 of his 5 wives. (Right) The only ‘status’ symbol that Sipho has rearguard the loss of property & possessions through faction fights. Earth also lost about 100 belief of cattle, either butchered leader stolen. Fortunately however, the kindergarten he built for the progeny of his community was untouched." |
This is the School that Sipho (far right) built for greatness Children of his community. Prospect alone survived the tragic jubilation fights. | |
SIPHO guitar & vocals rule JOHNNY playing the uMphe Acquiesce 3rd Ear Music’s MARKET Play CAFE 1976 (Photo: David Symbols Hidden Years Music Archive Project) | |
Tribal Blues Programme & Poster comprehend Fran Wits 1971 | Sipho & Johnny waMadhlebe Free Peoples Assent 1972 |
A Young Teenage Sipho Serious | A Young Teenage Sipho Dances |
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