Savuka

Johnny Clegg & Savuka, 1993

Savuka was a band formed in 1986 by English-born South African Johnny Clegg after the disbanding of his first band, Juluka. Both of his bands were inter-racial in the racially segregated Apartheid South Africa. Savuka followed more of a Western pop rock style blended with Clegg's familiar, distinctive Zulu musical stylings, creating a unique sound that was something of a major departure from the old, more traditional Zulu sound of Juluka.

They had a UK #75 hit in 1986 with a new version of the earlier Juluka hit 'Scatterlings of Africa'.

Some better-known Savuka songs include "Asimbonanga", "Third World Child", "The Crossing", "Dela", and "Cruel Crazy Beautiful World".

Percussionist Dudu Zulu was killed in 1992. "The Crossing" was a tribute to him.

Discography

Savuka released five studio albums:

• Third World Child
• Cruel, Crazy Beautiful World
• Heat, Dust And Dreams
• Shadow Man
• In My African Dream (more of a best-of compilation, but including some previously unreleased tracks)

Trivia

A version of the song "Dela (I Know Why The Dog Howls at the Moon)" appears on the soundtrack for the movie George of the Jungle.

Members

• Mandisa Dlanga - vocals (b. South Africa)
• Johnny Clegg - guitar, vocals (b. 31 October 1953, Rochdale, England)
• Steve Mavuso - keyboards, vocals (b. South Africa)
• Keith Hutchinson - saxophone, keyboards, vocals (b. South Africa)
• Solly Letwaba - bass (b. South Africa)
• Derek de Beer - drums (b. 1954, Johannesburg, South Africa)
• Andy Innes - guitar, mandolin, vocals (joined 1992), (b. 1968, Salford, England). Went on to perform function of Music Director for the reformed Juluka and subsequently the Johnny Clegg Band.
• Dudu Zulu - percussion, vocals (b. Mntowaziwayo Ndlovu, 25 December 1957, South Africa, d. 4 May 1992, Johannesburg)