Johnny Clegg bows out
One of South Africa’s most celebrated sons talks about quitting and his final tour No more thumb wars between Robert Marawa and Fikile Mbalula
FORTY years and out! The legendary Johnny Clegg, 63, is calling it a day and will no longer perform to sold- out audiences after wowing the globe with a vibrant blend of Western and African pop rhythms for more than four decades.
His “autobiographical” final world tour, The Final Journey, will kick off in Cape Town on July 1 and Johannesburg on July 7 and 8, before hitting Durban’s shores at the ICC Arena on July 29.
International tour dates in London and Dubai have been confirmed for August 19 and late September respectively, while dates for Europe, Australia and the US are yet to be finalised.
Clegg’s hits such as legacy includes Scatterlings, Impi, SPORTS broadcaster Robert Marawa and former Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula have kissed and made up after months of quarrelling.
Mbalula, now the Police Minister after President Jacob Zuma’s latest cabinet reshuffle, said the spats were never personal, despite Marawa tweeting that the minister once tried to get him fired.
Mbalula disputes this and tweeted that he had defended Marawa during his days as ANC Youth League president when there was an apparent campaign to remove Marawa, who presents 083 Sport with Marawa, a sports show on Metro FM from 6-7.30pm.
Speaking to the Sunday Tribune this week, Marawa said although he could not predict Asimbonanga name a few.
“I am just playing my last public shows as a thank you to my fans. I will still be active in music, in writing music and finishing my autobiography, and I will take on a few private engagements,” Clegg told the Sunday Tribune this week.
“I will miss the interaction with my fans. It is always good to be on stage and get that instant connection with my fans. It is the most gratifying feeling to experience.”
While he made sure he always entertained packed stadiums around the world, the past few years have not been easy, as he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer four years ago. He underwent chemotherapy yet still managed to perform on stage.
“There were times when it was tough but we never missed and Jongosi, to the future, it was less likely that he would have spats with Mbalula again and considered it water under the bridge.
“What is important now is that we have resolved the issue. He is now the minister of or cancelled one show in 18 months, but I must admit at times it was hard. I naturally had to change my life but I continued performing here and abroad through the whole process.
“I just had to stay focused and healthy which I did, and I am in remission now,” said Clegg, who was born in the UK and moved to South Africa aged 6.
Out of the many performances Clegg has performed , he said his home performances will always top the list.
“My most meaningful concerts have most probably been here in South Africa, performing at Ellis Park to more than 100 000 people of all races for the first time, and the 46664 concert in Cape Town when the entire audience sang Asimbonga with me.
“But I also had very special moments in other countries – in the UK, France, Germany, especially when Nelson Mandela came on stage when I was singing Asimbonanga.”
Tickets for the South Africa leg are available at Computicket. police and I am involved with sport, so I don’t see what can lead to disagreements.
“It was never personal, we just had disagreements purely based on work,” said Marawa.
The hatchet was buried with the assistance of DJ Oskido, who organised a meeting between the two men to talk about their issues.
Mbalula had also instructed his lawyers to file a suit against the sports presenter after Marawa allegedly ignored his letter of demand to apologise for claiming he had wanted to get him axed by the SABC.
Mbalula could not reached for comment.
Marawa and Mbalula traded many blows, with the former referring to Mbalula as “Tarzan” and Mbalula hitting back, calling Marawa “vindictive”.
Mbalula is very active and engaging on Twitter and it be was not the first time he had involved himself in a twar (Twitter war).
He has had thumb wars with radio and TV personality Gareth Cliff, Olympic javelin thrower Sunette Viljoen and News24 editor Adrian Basson to name a few.
The former ANCYL president is also not afraid to respond to Twitter cliques, often delivering what are known as clapbacks – where one would respond with zest and sarcasm with the aim of humiliating someone.
Other well known people who have had public spats include:
Musician Dr Malinga and rapper Nasty C: When the 21-year-old rapper won song of the year and three other awards at the Metro FM Awards this year, Dr Malinga, who felt he deserved the award for his hit Akulaleki (Can’t Sleep), bought himself an award and presented it to himself on Instagram.
The picture set tongues wagging on social media, leading to an angry 4am rebuke from the Durban-born Nasty C who said he won the awards because he worked hard and took a dig at Dr Malinga, referring to him as a gimmick who wore green shirts and who his own kids could not respect.
AKA and Cassper Nyovest:
When Cassper came into the music industry with his hit single Doc Shebeleza and claimed it was the biggest song in the country, one AKA, who had an itunes chart-topping song Congratulate at the time, took offence and a war ensued. Cassper has claimed one of AKA’S aides pointed a firearm at him. The two have twice claimed that they are no longer “beefing”.
Bonang Matheba and Somizi Mhlongo:
The Queen B and Somgaga went from buddies to enemies when Matheba accused Somizi of telling DJ Zinhle about Bonang’s affair with Zinhle’s boyfriend AKA, who she is now romantically involved with. She also accused him of leaking stories of her to the media.
Nomzamo Mbatha and Jessica Nkosi:
Both actresses hail from Kwazulu-natal, and both seemingly had the hots for Durban’s pop gospel star Khaya Mthethwa. Despite both acting on the Mzansi Magic telenovella Isibaya, we are yet to see them kiss and make up.
Mthethwa and Mbatha were engaged, but text messages exchanged between Nkosi and Mthethwa reportedly led to the end of the friendship and engagement.
Nkosi and Mthethwa denied the allegations.