Johnny Clegg is a singer, songwriter, dancer, anthropologist, academic and musical-social activist. In France, he is called Le Zulu Blanc or "The White Zulu."

Born in England, he was raised in South Africa from the age of 6. As a teen, he mastered the Zulu language and learned the guitar and dance styles of the Zulu workers in Johannesburg.

In 1969, he and Siphu Mchunu formed Juluka ("sweat"). Their band was ultimately composed of 3 white musicians and 3 black musicians. They performed in English and Zulu, wearing traditional Zulu dress, and dancing Zulu war dances. They were censored from radio and routinely harassed, arrested and unable to perform in standard venues due to the Apartheid Group Areas Act which enforced the separation of the races and their performance facilities. They released their first album, “Universal Men,” in 1979 and disbanded in 1985.

Clegg then formed Savuka (“we have risen”) with Dudu Zulu and achieved greater success. 1987’s “Asimbonanga” (“we can’t see him”) was written about Mandela during his 27 year incarceration and was performed for him after his release. Savuka ended when Dudu was murdered in 1992. Since then, Clegg has continued performing around the world with his band. He has received numerous honors, including a 2015 Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

He recently embarked on his “Final Journey Tour” having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015. His cancer returned in 2017, but he sings and dances on.

More Info: johnnyclegg.com