One of the comments the teacher made struck me. She said the world’s attention was brought to the injustice of Apartheid when artists began protesting by refusing to perform in South Africa.
It reminded me of a group that formed called “Artists United Against Apartheid”, and the song of protest they sang.
The video was similar in style to “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid; “Tears Are Not Enough” by Northern Lights; and “We Are the World” by USA for Africa.
The song was called “Ain’t Gonna Play Sun City”.
Apartheid
It is hard to believe it has been 30 years since the dismantling of Apartheid in South Africa. It was the most malignant form of discrimination. Blacks were settled on Bantustans, which were like First Nations Reserves in Canada. In fact, South Africa modeled Bantustans on the Canadian Reserve system.
It is hard to believe it has been 30 years since the dismantling of Apartheid in South Africa. It was the most malignant form of discrimination. Blacks were settled on Bantustans, which were like First Nations Reserves in Canada. In fact, South Africa modeled Bantustans on the Canadian Reserve system.
What was so galling was South Africa had considered itself a democracy, and it was – if you were white. Consequently, for decades, other nations also treated South Africa as a democracy. As always, financial concerns also played into matters as South Africa had products the world coveted.
Eventually, that was not enough, as the world began to see what South Africa really was – a nation built on state-sponsored racism and segregation.
Canada helped usher South Africa out of the Commonwealth in the1960s, and slowly nations began to increase their economic sanctions.
Still, in the 1980s, Apartheid was in full force, and it really did not look like things would change.
Yet, as in so many other things in the decade, it was musicians who shone a light on the situation.
Sun City
Sun City was a luxury casino and resort that opened in 1979. It even provided entertainment banned elsewhere in South Africa.
Sun City was a luxury casino and resort that opened in 1979. It even provided entertainment banned elsewhere in South Africa.
For years, according to Wikipedia, artists boycotted performing at Sun City although some did anyway, such as the Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Cher, Liza Minelli, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Rod Stewart, Elton John, and Queen.
Artist United Against Apartheid
Steven Van Zandt was best known as being part of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, and he wrote “Sun City” in 1985 as a protest against Apartheid.
Steven Van Zandt was best known as being part of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, and he wrote “Sun City” in 1985 as a protest against Apartheid.
Wikipedia says Van Zandt was reluctant to ask Springsteen to participate, but another member of the project had no problem asking.
Ultimately, Van Zandt assembled Artists United Against Apartheid, a group that included DJ Kool Herc; Grandmaster Melle Mel; Ruben Blades; Bob Dylan; Pat Benatar; Herbie Hancock; Ringo Starr and his son Zak Starkey; Lou Reed; Run D.M.C.; Peter Gabriel; Bob Geldof; Clarence Clemons, another member of the E Street Band; David Ruffin; Eddie Kendricks; Darlene Love; Bobby Womack; Afrika Bambaataa; Kurtis Blow; The Fat Boys; Jackson Browne; Darryl Hannah; Peter Wolf; Bono; George Clinton; Keith Richards; Ronnie Wood; Bonnie Raitt; Hall and Oates; Jimmy Cliff; Big Youth; Michael Monroe; Stiv Bators; Peter Garrett; Ron Carter; Ray Barretto; Gil Scott-Heron; Nona Hendryx; Kashif; Lotti Golden; L. Shankar; Miles Davis; and Joey Ramone.
These artists also would not perform at Sun City. That would be like giving a tacit endorsement to Apartheid.
I recall the day I saw “Sun City”. It was in 1985, on an episode of “Entertainment Tonight”, after a lot of hype and fanfare.
I remember thinking this song was angry.
That was exactly what it had to be because Apartheid was maddening.
The song
“Sun City” went to number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December of 1985. Interestingly, about half of American radio stations did not play “Sun City” because it criticized American policy on South Africa.
“Sun City” went to number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December of 1985. Interestingly, about half of American radio stations did not play “Sun City” because it criticized American policy on South Africa.
However, in other countries it was a solid hit.
“Sun City” went to number 10 in Canada; number three in the Netherlands; and number four in Australia.
It was banned in South Africa. No surprise there, again illustrating how democratic the country was – if you agreed with them.
The single, and album it was on, would go on to raise more than $1 million for anti-Apartheid projects.
Parting thoughts
Art often leads other institutions.
Art often leads other institutions.
Artists United Against apartheid was such a leader. It raised the world’s awareness of Apartheid, bringing together an incredibly diverse group of artists to expose it for the racist, brutal, archaic institution it was.
Artists United Against Apartheid, along with the artists’ boycotts, contributed to all the sanctions that helped bring the pressure to bear on the white South African government to end Apartheid.
That enabled the Black majority in South Africa to finally throw off the chains of Apartheid and govern themselves.
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