Music and apartheid in South Africa

Some prominent South African musicians discuss the role of music and theatre in publicising black consciousness and anti-apartheid movements in their homeland. There are excellent performances of Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika by Family Factory and the Soweto String Quartet, and excerpts of interviews with Hugh Masekela, Michael Masote and others.
Between 1948 and 1991, South Africa was a nation of diverse ethnicities and tribal groups, however a stringent series of laws and regulations - collectively referred to as apartheid - kept whites in positions of political power and economic affluence, while black South Africans were denied voting rights, political activism, education, freedom of movement and association. One of the reasons that apartheid was so effective and long-lasting was that it suppressed resistance and ideology and exploited divisions amongst the native Africans themselves. Music, dance, theatre and other cultural expressions played a pivotal role in uniting Africans and the world against apartheid and inspiring hope that it could and would be overcome. Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika, a song with a beautiful melody and peaceful and uplifting lyrics, became the best known songs of the anti-apartheid movement - and those who sang it in public were liable to be persecuted or arrested. It now constitutes the first part of South Africa's national anthem, along with an excerpt of the 'old' Afrikaans anthem The Call of South Africa, and some newly-devised English lyrics.
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[@frankestevaomaia7638]

My professor today, used this video to analyze the use of music as a stand against the standard, the accepted social order. I am grateful to have grown up in a magical time in South Africa.

[@williamgaither9432]

African Music sung without musical instruments is very melodic. The blending of the voices in harmony is angelic.

[@OKUHLEMZINYATHI100]

Whenever I hear about xenophobic attacks it just breaks my heart....and it just goes to show how much of a broken people we are.

[@GaryvanderMerwe]

The story of how he had to play for the police for his freedom made me cry... ;-(

[@Mashashadu]

@imhotep1 : the song is Manneburg by Dollar Brand ( he also goes by Abdullah Ibrahim )

[@kelvinbuobi1672]

Please can somebody drop the whole documentary on youtube ? 🙏🏿

[@kobbypro]

Voices of African Spirits

[@mambohedwin4115]

they may be facing difficult time but freedom has come at last

[@alieusesay821]

so nice

[@BIGMANTV1MUSIC]

good stuff!

[@ValMRogers]

Me too!

[@spirosdm]

Where can we get the complete interview? Herewith a comment / question / answer - given that we host the AFCON Cup in Jan 2013: as a singing nation it hurts to hear our voices drowned out by a 110db (pale-person's) war-toy, the Vuvuzela. The question is, what can be done to bring back the voices; the dancing & harmony they generate? The answer is: uncover our 'hidden history' for young people so that they can hear - the vuvuzela is NOT a so-called traditional SAfrican instrument. The voice is!

[@JaydenOrdner]

what film/documentary is this from?

[@ValMRogers]

Why does it end so abruptly at 10 minutes? Is there a full version available?

[@petepittsburgh]

skip to :50

[@jonastona]

My friend whas a apartheid fight and mucian from the ak47

[@petepittsburgh]

00:50