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Peotr
05-31-2008, 02:25 PM
Brush up on your Zulu!

Today's song: "Umfazi Omdala (http://www.bagofmice.com/tunes/daily/31.5.08.mp3)" by Juluka (from the album Ubuhle Bemvelo, Sterns records, 1982).

Yes, they're really singing in Zulu. I have never figured out the words, but I do like to sing along.

In 1986 Paul Simon released Graceland, an album built around the sounds and musical influences of South Africa. Recorded in collaboration with several South African musicians, Graceland would become a #3 album in the US and a #1 album in the UK, going multiplatinum and earning Paul Simon a Grammy.

The album was a huge success for Paul Simon, but it was only a modest success for the black South African musicians who contributed in the studio. Although Ladysmith Black Mambazo would achieve international success, most of the acts couldn't reach past the South African borders, mostly due to the 'cultural boycott' that prevented South Africans from competing in international competitions, from exporting cultural material, and which also prevented Western entertainers from traveling to South Africa to perform. Although well-meaning, the boycott prevented most South African recordings from being imported into the United States, which in turn kept most of these acts from capitalizing on the post-Graceland expansion of World Music.

After the album's release Simon was also accused of breaking the 'cultural boycott' against the apartheid South Africa, but this was not supported by either UN or the African National Congress, since Graceland showcased black South Africans and gave no support to the apartheid government.

-- Peotr (The Normal Guy) ©™

P.S. Caveat: This music is copyrighted, and is available here solely for the purpose of discussion.

P.P.S. Juluka is Zulu for 'sweat'.

P.P.P.S. Juluka did not perform on Graceland; the song is one of many from a series of tapes Simon was listening to (starting with the Boyoyo Boys instrumental album Gumboots.)

P.P.P.S. The band Juluka is, perhaps, the only apartheid-era South African act that featured a white man (Johnny Clegg) singing, performing and recording with a black Zulu songwriter (Sipho Mchunu) and other black musicians. Because of this it was banned from airplay in South Africa, and achieved most of its success by word-of-mouth. Most of the Juluka music available in South Africa was bootleg cassette tapes made from albums purchased in France.

P.P.P.P.S. The cultural boycott was not a true boycott, and was not legally binding; the original UN Resolution 1761, calling for a trade boycott against South Africa, failed largely because the United States vetoed the resolution and refused to impose economic sanctions. This was mainly because of the US fear of communist Angola, the communist leanings of the African National Congress, the US corporate investment in South Africa, and also because the US was a major importer of South African diamonds and titanium.