Juluka Reunion (1997)
by Vanessa Clark/Cue Music
Nombulelo Hall saw the reunion of two South African musical giants last night when Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu performed live together as "Juluka" after a 10 year break.
Covered in bright blue, magenta and green lights, Johnny and Sipho revisited the sounds of their 26-year collaboration and gave listeners a glimpse of what is yet to come.
"This is where we come from," said Clegg, giving the audience the sounds of the Johannesburg streets where he and Mchunu met. The performance included Juluka classics such as "Kilimanjaro," "Bullets for Bafaza," "Scatterlings," "Impi" and "Africa, how did you get so strong?". Some have been reworked to reflect the changes of the past decade.
In true Juluka style, the performances were charged with energy, with impassioned dancing from Clegg and Mchunu. Dressed in black jackets and pants with white vests and takkies they seemed relaxed and enjoyed performing together.
As part of the Grahamstown Foundation's attempt to include the township in the Festival, Nombulelo Hall was a controversial choice of venue. Juluka performed in the same venue 12 years ago.
The hall has space for only 600 people and although all three shows are sold- out, the Foundation could not facilitate extra shows. Despite being held in Rhini, the majority of last night's audience was white, with the standard ticket price of R29 probably too high for township fans, yet only slightly more than is charged in Gauteng township venues, says Clegg.
Ranging in age from pre-school to pensioner, most of the audience seemed stunned, or perhaps frozen from the blast of winter outside. But die hard Juluka fans in the front rows roared their approval and sang along to their old favourites, and the three new songs from the upcoming Juluka album.
Juluka leave for a 26 city tour of the USA on Monday using their Festival performances as a sounding board for their new show.
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