Led by a Song: Music and the Anti-Apartheid MovementE. Napp Name: ________________Historical Context: In 1652, Jan van Riebeeck established a permanent European settlement in South Africa. As a representative of the Dutch East India Company, the purpose of the settlement was to provide a refueling station for Dutch ships en route to Asian colonies. The Dutch Boers [farmers] who settled in South Africa enslaved the indigenous Black South African population and developed racial theories to support their exploitation of Black labor. When South Africa became a British colony in the 1800s, the Dutch Boers migrated further north in the colony to avoid British anti-slavery policies. However, when gold and diamonds were discovered on Dutch Boer lands, a series of wars ensued. Known as the Boer Wars, the Boers were ultimately defeated by the British and South Africa remained a British colony.

In the early 1900s, the British largely granted self-rule to the white minority in South Africa. By 1948, descendants of the Dutch Boers known as Afrikaners had gained control of the South African government and the Afrikaner National Party established a system of racial segregation known as apartheid [“apartness”]. This system of racial segregation required that all South Africans be classified according to race and that homelands or “Bantustans” were created for Black South Africans based on ethnicity or tribal affiliation. Black South Africans were effectively denied citizenship in South Africa as they became citizens of their Bantustans. Denied the right to vote, Black South Africans were unable to participate in the electoral process and thus, could not democratically change the apartheid system. Towns, bathrooms, and even benches were designated “white” or “non-white”.

Since Bantustans were located on the least productive lands in South Africa, Black South Africans often had to find work in white towns and cities. As all Black South Africans were required to carry passbooks or identification papers, families were often divided as work permits allowed one member of a family to migrate to a city or town but no other members of the family. Although denied the vote, Black South Africans worked for change through organizations like the African National Congress (ANC). However, when important ANC leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu were imprisoned in the nineteen sixties, the difficulties confronting anti-apartheid activists increased. As the South African police were known to open fire on unarmed protestors (Sharpeville Massacre of 1960 and Soweto Riots of 1976); anti-apartheid activists in South Africa risked their lives challenging apartheid. Yet South African anti-apartheid activists continued their struggle for freedom and by the eighties, their freedom struggle was embraced by university students, artists, and musicians around the world. In the early 1990s, the apartheid system was dismantled and by 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected President of a new South Africa.

Task: Using information from the documents (1-10) and your knowledge of history, answer the questions that follow each document. Your answers to the questions will help you write an essay in which you will be asked to

Describe the conditions that gave rise to the global anti-apartheid movement. Evaluate the impact of music and the arts on the anti-apartheid movement.

Document 1:

Questions:1- What was the single moral struggle that gripped the 1980s?

_______________________________________________________________________ 2- Define apartheid.

_______________________________________________________________________3- What was the ratio of whites to blacks in South Africa?

_______________________________________________________________________ 4- How did the apartheid system ensure that whites maintained political and economic

power over the native Black majority? _______________________________________________________________________

5- What happened at Columbia University in March 1985? _______________________________________________________________________

6- Why did Run DMC come to Columbia University during this three-week takeover? ________________________________________________________________________

7- Define divestment. ________________________________________________________________________

8- How did divestment affect the South African economy? ________________________________________________________________________

9- What became the symbol of the anti-apartheid protests? ________________________________________________________________________

10- Why was a shantytown an effective symbol of apartheid? ________________________________________________________________________

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“If there was a single moral struggle that gripped the 1980s in the same way that desegregation had the 1960s, it was the global fight against apartheid, the racist South African apparatus of law and ideology that allowed the white minority, outnumbered five to one, to maintain political and economic power over the native Black majority. The anti-apartheid movement represented the climax of a century of anticolonial and antiracist resistance, the light piercing the last darkness before the dawn of a new global century…

U.S. campus protests swung into high gear. In March 1985, Columbia University students launched a three-week takeover of Hamilton Hall, renaming it Mandela Hall – the biggest campus protest since 1968. Run DMC came down to perform and show its support. During the divestment [withdrawal of foreign investment and firms in South African in protest of apartheid] springs of 1985 and 1986, hundreds of campuses exploded in demonstrations. On the quads or in front of administration buildings, the shantytown replaced the cemetery as the symbol of disruption.Source: Chang Jeff, Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, 2005

Document 2:

Questions:1- What were the primary goals of the Sun City single and accompanying album?

________________________________________________________________________2- What inspired Steven Van Zandt to write an anti-apartheid song?

________________________________________________________________________ 3- Describe Sun City.

________________________________________________________________________ 4- Why did the Sun City complex become a symbol of the injustices of apartheid?

________________________________________________________________________ 5- Why was the video of the song particularly important?

________________________________________________________________________ 6- What was the impact of the Sun City album?

________________________________________________________________________

“One of the most fervent and forceful political statements to emerge from Eighties pop music, Sun City didn’t achieve the sales or wide radio airplay of other ‘cause’ records like We Are the World. Nevertheless, the single and the accompanying album managed to achieve their primary goals: to draw attention to South Africa’s racist policy of apartheid and to support a cultural boycott of the country.

…[Steve] Van Zandt, a former member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, was sitting in a Los Angeles movie theater waiting for a film to start when he got the original inspiration for the project. The theater’s PA system was playing Peter Gabriel’s ‘Biko,’ which eulogizes the murdered South African human-rights activist, and Van Zandt was captivated by the song’s message. He started examining the apartheid situation and began to write an anthem about the entertainment resort called Sun City for his third solo album.

…A Vegas-style recreation center with glamorous hotels, gambling casinos, showrooms and spas, Sun City is located in Bophuthatswana, one of South Africa’s so-called ‘homeland’ regions, where Zulus were relocated without their consent. In efforts to legitimize the area, Sun City has offered vast sums to entertainers to perform there…Although executives at the resort frequently try to downplay the realities of apartheid, the Sun City complex has become a symbol of the opulence that whites enjoy at the expense of the country’s black natives.

…for whatever reason, the single never became a radio hit…Fortunately, the lack of radio airplay didn’t stop ‘Sun City’ from reaching the public. Thanks to a spectacular video clip, directed by Godley and Creme, Jonathan Demme and Hart Perry, the antiapartheid message was heard and seen around the world.

…Perhaps more important than the money earned, the album threw an effective political punch: Not only did it discourage musicians from playing the South African resort city, but it also helped spread the word about new sounds like rap.” Source: rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-eighties

Document 3:

Source: hallandoates.de/Covers/Sun_City_Album_front.jpgQuestion:

1- What message is communicated to consumers by the album’s cover’s art? ________________________________________________________________________

2- Why is this message communicated? ________________________________________________________________________

Document 4: “We were playing in Germany when this German teenager asked me, ‘Why are you putting missiles in my country?’ It was the first time that I became aware that I was seen as an American, not as a musician. Of course, in a democracy, I am putting missiles in his country. Then I thought, ‘What else am I doing?’ I started to study and read everything I could about the post-World War II history of foreign relations and I became aware of the U.S. role in foreign affairs. South Africa was also brought to my attention and there was very little information about it in the States even after the Soweto Riots of 1976. After reading about it, I went to visit South Africa in 1984. When I was there, I was in a taxi and a black man stepped off the curb. The cab driver didn’t even try to avoid hitting him. In fact, he actually tried to hit the man as he called him a ‘Kaffir’ – an insulting term for a Black South African. That really taught me a lot about apartheid. That’s when I knew that I would support the boycott. I thought, ‘We can win this war against apartheid on T.V.’”Source: Interview with Steven Van Zandt at Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, July 2014Questions:

1- How did an incident in Germany transform the consciousness of Steven Van Zandt? ________________________________________________________________________

2- Why did Steven Van Zandt visit South Africa in 1984? ________________________________________________________________________

3- How did a ride in a taxi further change Steven Van Zandt’s view on apartheid? ________________________________________________________________________

4- What did Steven Van Zandt conclude about how to fight apartheid? ________________________________________________________________________

Document 5:

Questions:1- Why are the rockers and rappers not going to play Sun City?

________________________________________________________________________2- What facts about apartheid are presented to listeners?

________________________________________________________________________ 3- How does Steven Van Zandt refer to the policies of President Ronald Reagan?

________________________________________________________________________ 4- How does constructive engagement differ from a cultural boycott of South Africa?

________________________________________________________________________5- What does the song suggest about the reason for the location of Sun City in

Bophuthatswana? ________________________________________________________________________

6- Why is the chorus of “I ain’t gonna play Sun City” particularly effective? ________________________________________________________________________

7- How does the song educate listeners? ________________________________________________________________________

Sun City Lyrics:

We’re rockers and rappers united and strongWe’re here to talk about South Africa we don’t like what’s going onIt’s time for some justice it’s time for the truthWe’ve realized there’s only one thing we can do

I ain’t gonna play Sun City

Relocation to phony homelandsSeparation of families I can’t understand23 million can’t vote because they’re blackWe’re stabbing our brothers and sisters in the back

I ain’t gonna play Sun City

Our government tells us we’re doing all we canConstructive Engagement is Ronald Reagan’s planMeanwhile people are dying and giving up hopeThis quiet diplomacy ain’t nothing but a joke

I ain’t gonna play Sun City

Boputhuswana is far awayBut we know it’s in South Africa no matter what they sayYou can’t buy me I don’t care what you payDon’t ask me Sun City because I ain’t gonna playSource: Steven Van Zandt, 1985 Blue Midnight Music

Document 6: Stephen Biko was a Black South African who was a founder of the Black Consciousness Movement. The purpose of the Black Consciousness Movement was to encourage Black South Africans to recognize their inherent dignity and worth especially while confronting the daily degradations of the apartheid system. In 1977, Biko was arrested by the South African police and beaten to death.

Questions:1- Who was Stephen Biko?

________________________________________________________________________ 2- What was the goal of the Black Consciousness Movement?

________________________________________________________________________ 3- What happened to Stephen Biko in 1977?

________________________________________________________________________4- How is the image of a candle used to show the power and majesty of Biko?

________________________________________________________________________

Biko Lyrics:September ‘77Port Elizabeth weather fineIt was business as usualIn police room 619Oh Biko, Biko, because BikoOh Biko, Biko, because BikoYihla Moja, Yihla Moja-The man is dead

When I try to sleep at nightI can only dream in redThe outside world is black and whiteWith only one colour deadOh Biko, Biko, because BikoOh Biko, Biko, because BikoYihla Moja, Yihla Moja-The man is dead

You can blow out a candleBut you can’t blow out a fireOnce the flames begin to catchThe wind will blow it higherOh Biko, Biko, because BikoYihla Moja, Yihla Moja-The man is deadAnd the eyes of the world arewatching nowwatching nowSource: Peter Gabriel, EMI Music Publishing

Document 7:

Questions:1- How does the album cover of Fela & Egypt ’80 demonstrate Fela’s point of view

regarding the apartheid system? ________________________________________________________________________

2- How are Botha, the South African leader, Margaret Thatcher, and President Ronald Reagan portrayed on the album cover? ________________________________________________________________________

3- What sign is an anti-apartheid activist carrying? ________________________________________________________________________

4- How might this album cover educate consumers? ________________________________________________________________________

Document 8:

Questions:1- What was the purpose of the Hip Hop Artists Against Apartheid record?

________________________________________________________________________ 2- How did Afrika Bambaattaa provide ANC officials with a connection to a more

global audience? ________________________________________________________________________

“…Last year I had the Hip Hop Artists Against Apartheid record to help the ANC [African National Congress] raise some money. We gave a big concert in England and I brought Winnie Mandela and a lot of the ANC members on stage to a large hip hop audience in London.”Source: Excerpt from an Interview with Afrika Bambaataa; davyd.com

Document 9:

Questions:1- According to Stevie Wonder, why do the officials enforcing apartheid have no

covenant with God? _______________________________________________________________________

2- What other global injustices does Stevie Wonder compare apartheid to? _______________________________________________________________________

3- According to Stevie Wonder, what is the reaction of the world community to apartheid? ________________________________________________________________________

4- What does Stevie Wonder believe is coming? ________________________________________________________________________

5- How does Stevie Wonder’s song educate listeners? ______________________________________________________________________

Stevie Wonder’s It’s Wrong (Apartheid) LyricsThe wretchedness of Satan’s wrathWill come to seize you at last’Cause even he frowns upon the deeds you are doingAnd you know deep in your heartYou’ve no covenant with God‘Cause he would never countenance people abusing

You know apartheid’s wrong, wrongLike slavery was wrong, wrongLike the holocaust was wrong, wrongApartheid is wrong, wrong, wrongIt’s wrong, wrong, wrong , wrongWrong, wrong, wrong, wrong

The pain you cause in God's namePoints only to yourself to blameFor the negative karma you will be receiving‘Cause when people are oppressedWith atrocities that testThe future of all mankind weThe world won’t stand seeing…

Ubuqaba babo bucacileWoqamba kuze kucaceNgoba nosathane uyabugxekaLobuqabaOh, freedom is coming(Inkululeko iyeza) Say it againSource: Stevie Wonder, EMI Music Publishing

Document 10:

Source: aamarchives.orgQuestions:

1- What information is conveyed on this concert poster for The Smiths? ________________________________________________________________________

2- How did musicians performing at anti-apartheid benefits impact the anti-apartheid movement? ________________________________________________________________________

The Essay Question:

Task: Using information from the documents (1-10) and your knowledge of history, write an essay in which you

Describe the conditions that gave rise to the global anti-apartheid movement. Evaluate the impact of music and the arts on the anti-apartheid movement.