IT has been said that while Nelson Mandela was not visible to many during his incarceration, music was what kept the consciousness going. Songs of protest and eulogy of the former South African leader remained one of the evidences of support for the freedom fighter which he saw after his release. Nigeria’s support, as the acclaimed giant of Africa, traversed political rallies and solidarity statements, but was also hinged on emotional-driven musical appeals.
Among the notable heroes of what could be termed the musical activists were the likes of Majek Fashek, Sonny Okosun, Onyeka Onwenu and The Mandators.
Thus, penultimate Thursday, when, African National Congress (ANC), South Africa’s ruling party, announced the demise of Mandela, the world was thrown into mourning. But in celebrating his achievements in life, music filled the air; most of the songs were reminiscent of the anti-apartheid era.
While Apartheid might have gone, the dark days of the policy and the struggle which came with it will never be forgotten; so are the contributions of Nigeria and its artistry.
In a review of the 10 essential works that celebrate the late Nelson Mandela and his efforts at fighting Apartheid, Los Angeles Times lists Sonny Okosun’s 1978 song, Fire in Soweto. The song which has an upbeat tempo with reggae instrumentation opens with the lines, “Fire in Soweto are burning all the people. Fire in Angola are burning all the people. Riot in Mozambique, affecting all the people. Fighting in Namibia crushing all the people.”
The late musician also brought his highlife style to bear in the song which became an international hit. “Tell me where they gonna go/if they have no home. Tell me what they gonna do when you find out the truth. Freedom is our goal,” he sang.
Other artistes whose songs made the list include Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse (Nelson Mandela; 1994), Stevie Wonder (It’s Wrong; 1985), Brenda Fassie (My Black President, 1989), Johnny Clegg and Savuka, (Asimbonanga; 1987), Artists United Against Apartheid (I Ain’t Gonna Play Sun City; 1985), Peter Gabriel (Biko; 1980), The Specials (Free Nelson Mandela; 1984), Youssou N’Dour (Mandela; 1986) as well as The Malopoets (The End is Near; 1988).
It is evident that all the songs have one thing in common: they all sought to put an end to the oppressive Apartheid regime in South Africa, but I Ain’t Gonna Play Sun City has its own special story. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band helped spearhead a musical boycott of South Africa’s big ticket resort town Sun City, which until then had paid handsome money for superstar concerts.
Van Zandt who was to later star in The Sopranos put together a lineup for the song produced by early electronic dance music innovator Arthur Baker. In a historical move, the song bridged the worlds of rock and rap together and till date is still being regarded as one of the biggest genre convergence.
The song featured not only lines by Bruce Springsteen but Grandmaster Flash, Bob Dylan and Afrika Bambaata, helping to further push rap to an audience which still regarded the genre as a not-so-pure form of artistry. The video which got heavy rotation on MTV also helped ignite campus demonstrations across America urging universities to divest their holdings in companies doing business with the South African regime.
In Nigeria, the push to end Apartheid was just as intense. The Apartheid era in South Africa pitched Nigeria as one of the foremost supporters of Black South African liberation movements, including the African National Congress. The Nigerian government was known to have issued more than 300 passports to South Africans seeking to travel abroad.
At some point, it is essential to note that Nigeria’s input into the struggle crossed all areas like literature, politics, diplomacy and of course, music. In 1989, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his Egypt ’80 band released the Beast of No Nation album which depicts on its cover U.S. President Ronald Reagan, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and South African Prime Minister Pieter Willem Botha.
One of the best guitarists at the time, Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek, is a Nigerian reggae singer and guitarist. With a soulful voice, Majek narrates Mandela’s ordeal in his song Free Africa; Free Mandela. “For 27 years, he’s been sitting at the jail. For 27 years gone, he’s been lying at the jail. He left his wife; he left his children for the sake of Africa.”
Many have argued that it was Onyeka Onwenu who set the tempo for the freedom songs with her song titled Winnie Mandela, dedicated to the wife of the anti-apartheid icon. Victor Essiet and the Mandators also lent their voices to the struggle with the song, Apartheid. “Truth is our right/Jah is our might/we must lift up south Africa… don’t let them fool you/don’t let them wash our brain, this is no time to be deceived. All that talking is full of lies,” the Mandators condemn not just Apartheid as a government policy but also the feeble attempts by the west to quash it. Other Nigerian artistes who added their voice to the fight included Kollington Ayinla and Wasiu Ayinde Marshal.
The former South African President and long time democratic activist was imprisoned by the pro-apartheid government from 1962 to 1990. During the period of his incarceration, Mandela wasn’t allowed access to music but it is important to note that music played an active role in the struggle to end racial segregation.
From the mid-eighties to 1990, Nigerian musicians gave their talents to the struggle in form of composition and rendition of songs eulogising the late Mandela, calling for his unconditional and immediate release from Robben Island where he was jailed.
Since December 5 when it was announced that the former president died at the age of 95, there have been mixed reactions as to whether Nigeria and its citizens have been treated with deserved honour by South Africa and South Africans but Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State emphatically stated that Nigeria deserves glory for post-apartheid gains.
Speaking on Monday, December 9, the governor stated that Nigeria deserved respect for the leading role it played in ending the Apartheid regime in South Africa, describing it as ironical that Nigerians faced daily harassment in South Africa, while those who enthroned Apartheid got more respect in that country.
“Tribute to Mandela, either during his life or after his death, cannot really be too much. We are privileged to share this planet with him. But then, there are more questions than answers. When you look at the part of the world where ovation is now the loudest, it was the part the pain was the most vicious. In a very cruel irony, history is being revised,” Fashola said.
Appreciated or not, Nigerian artistes are proud of their contribution to the end of the era as some of the biggest entertainment acts are geared up to perform December 18 in honour of the late former South African President, Nelson Mandela.
The event titled, The Legacy Lives… A Tribute Concert”, will showcase Nigerian artistes such as Dbanj, 2Face, Darey, Burna Boy, Ikechukwu, Eldee the Don and Zaina.
Others are Mo Easy, Engager, Chioma, DJ Babus, Timi Dakolo, Waje, Julius Agwu, Mike Aremu, J. Martins, Niyola, Omawunmi, Tiwa Savage and Rocksteady and will hold at the Oceanview Restaurant, Victoria Island.
It is being organised by Mo’ Abudu, Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife TV. “It is one of the least things we can do as Nigerians, Africans and global black citizens of the world to honour a unique, caring and very humble global character,” Abudu said.
