Icons of South African Music: Johnny Clegg & Miriam Makeba

Chris Gudu has toured and shared the stage with some of Africa’s greatest legends such as Hugh Masekela, Angelique Kidjo, Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo & more. For this very special night, The Chris Gudu Band will be joined by special guests Khaliphani & Tarisai Vushe to pay tribute to Johnny Clegg & Miriam Makeba. Providing the backing vocals will be a trio of Ngaire, Thandi & Nazra. The show will be jam packed with irresistible umbaqanga / township jive music & lots of dancing as they celebrate these 2 legends & their legacy.

To say South Africa has a rich heritage of music is an understatement, producing countless international icons such as Mahotela Queens, Hugh Masekela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Stimela, Soul Brother, Soweto Gospel Choir, to name but a few. In recent times many of us have been left broken-hearted at the passing of one such legend—a true ambassador of township jive & kwela music straight from the streets of Soweto. Johnny Clegg, a much celebrated pioneer & an unparalleled exponent of South African rhythms sadly passed away on 16 July 2019 after a long illness. He has left the world a priceless gift of his music well documented on his recordings.

Long before the legendary Johnny Clegg made his presence felt in the music scene internationally the township jive & kwela (umbaqanga) music of South Africa was already well known, celebrated, danced to & sung along to across all the four corners of the globe. It is the true heroes of the music from that part of the continent who paved the way for superstars like Clegg & many others ahead of their time. Among those heroes was none other than Miriam Makeba, the mother of African Music, better known to her fans as Mama Africa. She passed away on 9 November 2008 leaving a musical vacuum that only she could fill.