Johnny Clegg tribute on Magic Breakfast

South African singer Johnny Clegg passed away on Tuesday 16 July 2019 at the age of 66 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Despite being diagnosed in 2015, he continued to perform all over the world.

Johnny Clegg’s manager Roddy Quin confirmed the legendary musician’s passing with the following statement, “Johnny leaves deep footprints in the hearts of every person that considers him/herself to be an African. He showed us what it was to assimilate to and embrace other cultures without losing your identity. An anthropologist that used his music to speak to every person. With his unique style of music, he traversed cultural barriers like few others. In many of us, he awakened awareness.”

During his lifetime, Johnny Clegg was awarded by a number of local and international bodies for his contribution to music and society. The French Government in 1991 awarded Johnny Clegg with a Knight of Arts and Letters, and in 2015 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. In 2012 he received the Order of Ikhamanga from the South African government. He was also awarded a number of honorary doctorates.

Guy McDonald paid tribute to the South African music icon on Magic Breakfast.

 

 

 

 

 

Johnny Clegg is survived by his wife of 31 years, Jenny and their two sons Jesse and Jaron.