Madiba is free!

Audio 29:00

By: Joe Farmer Follow

Thirty years ago, on February 11, 1990, the oldest political prisoner on the planet was released after 27 years in South African jails. His name is Nelson Mandela. Its simple name is a challenge for the authorities of the time. It took the mobilization of many personalities for the convictions of a man, fiercely attached to the values ​​of justice and equity, to be heard and respected. The world of music repeatedly accompanied this fierce struggle for a human ideal. From Peter Gabriel to Johnny Clegg, from Simple Minds to Youssou N'Dour, they were dozens of activists and indignant.

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Admittedly, the constant pressure of the democratic powers on the apartheid regime was right of the authoritarian policy of Pretoria, but do not minimize the role of the artists whose expressive force gradually federated the popular energies so that a wise man can change the course of history. Without the increasing commitment of world famous personalities, the very first declaration of the future president of South Africa could not have taken place in front of the Town Hall of Cape Town on February 11, 1990. That the fight was violent, sometimes drowned in tears and despair, to achieve this fragile balance between whites and blacks. If the community of international musicians took up the cause of the figure of the ultimate resistance fighter in the heart of the 80s, let us have the honesty to note that this citizen momentum was very late. For a long time, too long, the challenge to the established order had little response and the young Miriam Makeba, in exile in the United States, seemed very alone at the rostrum of the United Nations in 1963 to denounce the abuses of white authorities towards black South Africans. For 30 years, Miriam Makeba will have to perform outside South African borders to make her voice heard. Her husband, trumpeter Hugh Masekela, will also suffer the distance from her native land.

"Biko", Peter Gabriel © Mercury / Charisma and "Nelson Mandela", Youssou N'Dour © Magnetic Records. Mercury / Charisma / Magnetic Records

In the mid-1970s, a terrible event aroused the emotion of artists across the planet. On June 16, 1976, black students protest against the introduction of Afrikaans, the language of white settlers, into secondary education. 20,000 people demonstrated in Soweto that day. Overwhelmed by the events, the authorities decided to repress this student sling in blood. Police opened fire and left 23 dead, mostly children. This massacre will set fire to the slums of the country. For several months, clashes between white police and black demonstrators will cause the death of 700 people. Indignant, outraged, desperate, collapsed, Hugh Masekela wrote Soweto Blues in 1977. As this song begins to raise awareness, another drama will fuel the revolt in South Africa and abroad. On September 12, 1977, Steve Biko, instigator of the black youth rebellion movements, died in his cell in Pretoria. He was only 30 years old. The causes of his death will remain mysterious, but everyone knows that the torture leaves little hope for black prisoners in South Africa. The UN will respond by imposing an embargo on arms sales. However, the apartheid regime will remain intractable and continue to dictate its law.

Timidly, the world of music rises. The name Steve Biko resonates in a few compositions by popular British musicians. Members of the Steel Pulse group salute the memory of the late activist in their 1979 album Tribute to the Martyrs . A year later, in 1980, an artist whose renown continues to grow will also speak out against the unacceptable policy of the South African government by paying tribute to Steve Biko. His name is Peter Gabriel. The song Biko will tour the world and become one of the hymns of the fight against apartheid. The tragic story of Steve Biko will also be brought to the screen in the film Cry Freedom, by Richard Attenborough.

Sun City © EMI and Johnny Clegg and Savuka © Capitol Records. EMI / Capitol Records

The 80s will see the pressure increase. After Steve Biko, it is another prisoner still alive, and still cumbersome, who becomes a universal symbol of resilience. The name of Nelson Mandela reappears and unites. Behind this totem, this banner of the refusal of oppression, a multitude of militant actions are emerging. Jerry Dammers, leader of a Ska group called The Specials , wrote in 1984 the title Free Nelson Mandela . He surely does not imagine that its composition will have a decisive global impact a few months later. The success of this 45-lap will greatly encourage other musicians to go into battle. The guitarist Little Steven records the title Sun City which denounces in particular the apathy of his brothers and sisters who, carefree, continue to occur in South Africa. He then surrounds himself with a legion of rebellious. Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Afrika Bambataa, Herbie Hancock, George Clinton, Jimmy Cliff, Gil Scott-Heron, and many others are participating in this very ambitious project.

As the United Kingdom and the United States finally wake up, the African continent continues the struggle and makes itself heard. Youssou N'Dour is then a young singer of 26 years old. He cannot contain his indignation. In 1985, he organized a concert in Dakar in support of Nelson Mandela and recorded a title in his honor. Step by step, everyone contributes to the building. The South African singer of British origin, Johnny Clegg, recorded in turn a landmark work: Asimbonanga . Since the assassination of Steve Biko, a decade has passed and nothing has changed in South Africa. Nelson Mandela has been in prison since 1962 and apartheid is still sadly the norm for the Pretoria regime. It is therefore urgent to act!

Nelson Mandela and his wife Winnie (left), during a concert at Wembley, April 16, 1990. Georges De Keerle / Getty Images

On June 11, 1988, a giant concert was held at Wembley Stadium in London. It brings together all the big stars of pop, rock, soul and African music of the time. It is the singer, actor, and defender of civil rights, Harry Belafonte who addresses the audience first. 72,000 spectators are preparing to celebrate the 70th birthday of Nelson Mandela still locked up in his prison on Robben Island. 600 million viewers are watching this gigantic collective awareness. The song Free Nelson Mandela received a frenzied acclamation and gave heart to all the actors of this great musical and political mass. Throughout this day of June 11, 1988, dozens of artists will shout the name of Nelson Mandela so that beyond the continents, the apartheid regime will feel the wind of revolution blow. Sting, Whoopi Goldberg, Al Green, Joe Cocker, Natalie Cole, Tracy Chapman, Joan Armatrading, Youssou N'Dour, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Peter Gabriel, Salif Keita, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, they will all be there to shake up the South African dictatorship. It must be believed that this debauchery of means, stars, committed songs, paid off. On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released, the point raised! Two months later, He went to London to greet all those who had contributed to his relentless struggle against apartheid. He is obviously the guest of honor at a giant new concert at Wembley. The public exulted and gave him an ovation for almost 10 minutes.

20 years after the first support concert for Nelson Mandela, London will once again host "Madiba". This June 27, 2008, it is a frail 90 year old gentleman who seems to want to transmit the torch during a brief speech in Hyde Park in front of 50,000 people moved to tears. The late Johnny Clegg was at his side during this last public appearance: "It was difficult to move. It was time for him to greet us and say goodbye to political activism" .

Nelson Mandela's website

Nelson Mandela during the Concert "46664", for his 90th birthday, in Hyde Park (London), June 27, 2008. Mike Marsland / WireImage

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