This archive report was first published on 31 July 2019.
July 18, 2019, marked Mandela Day, a day to celebrate the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. However, two days prior, the world lost another anti-apartheid hero, Johnny Clegg, also known as Umlungu Omnyama, or the black white person.
Clegg, a musician and activist, was a key figure in keeping the anti-apartheid struggle alive through his music. His band, which was mixed-race, defied the laws of racial segregation in apartheid-era South Africa, and his songs, such as 'Asimbonanga,' were banned for political reasons.
The documentary 'The State Against Mandela & Others' tells the story of the Rivonia trial in 1963 and 1964, where Clegg and other anti-apartheid activists, including Nelson Mandela, were tried for their involvement in the struggle against apartheid.
The documentary is based on recovered sound archives of the trial and features interviews with survivors, including Denis Goldberg, Ahmed Kathrada, and Andrew Mlangeni. The film shows how the accused turned the tables on the apartheid state, portraying the African National Congress as a collective movement and choosing Mandela as the face of their struggle.
Johnny Clegg's music and legacy continue to inspire people today, and his story serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up against injustice and fighting for human rights.
