I just noticed a reference to Apartheid in an '80s calypso tunes by an artist called Becket. It got me thinking about songs about Apartheid.
Here’s the ones I can think of, off the top of my head:
Christy Moore - Biko Drum
Peter Gabriel - Biko
The Special AKA - Free Nelson Mandela
Artists United Against Apartheid - Sun City
Labi Siffre - (Something Inside) So Strong
Sweet Honey In The Rock - Chile (Your Waters Run Red Through Soweto)
Can ye think of any more?
“Johannesburg,” by the late Gil Scott-Heron.
Gimme Hope Jo’anna by the incomparable and unfairly one-hit wonderized Eddy Grant.
There’s also a Housemartins song called “Johannesburg.” The YouTube video is not available in my country, but might be in yours.
Randy Newman, “Christmas in Capetown:” Christmas in Capetown - YouTube
U2 Silver & Gold
Not a well-known song (it was a B-side to Where the Streets Have No Name, but they played it fairly often in concert.
It was a highlight of the concert film Rattle and Hum.
Tom Paxton The Death of Stephen Bilko
Peter Hammill - A Motorbike in Afrika
Labi Siffre - Something Inside So Strong
Dolores Keane - Lion In A Cage
Was that the Sergeant’s brother? Should be “Biko,” and there are quite a few songs about him, I see: Steve Biko - Wikipedia
If you’re interested, I recommend looking up Johnny Clegg (with or without Savuka). The main song I know is One (Hu)man, One Vote, but almost everything he did in the 80’s & 90’s was related to Apartheid.
“Apartheid” Peter Tosh
It’s Wrong (Apartheid) by Stevie Wonder. (Guess what position the song takes. ;))
FYI there’s a great demo of this on the Sun City album (not the single) with Bono doing the vocals and Keith Richards and Ron Wood playing guitar.
Sun City (I…ain’t gonna play Sun City)…
Trying to find out why two songs on your list included the word Biko, I eventually made it to Steve Biko’s Wiki page which includes a list of songs that mention or are about him.
See post #10.
Does this count?
“Bring Him Back Home,” Hugh Masekela