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LINER NOTESThe spear of the nation by Mayibuye The system of apartheid is a crime against humanity. Apartheid is nothing more than a shameless system of oppression and exploitation. The white minority defends its privileged position by means of truncheons, bullets and torture. The non-violent resistance of the blacks to apartheid has always been answered by the whites with harsh laws, heavy penalties and violent action by police and army. This resistance to the apartheid regime has been led by the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC) since 1912; in 1955 their Freedom Charter called for the end to apartheid and its replacement with a non-racial democratic society. After the massacre at Sharpeville in 1960, the ANC was banned, but continued its work underground. Having exhausted all avenues of peaceful protest, the ANC launched in 1961 its military wing Umkhonto we Sizwe, the Spear of the Nation. In 1976 a widespread uprising followed the June 16 Soweto massacre of black school children and students demonstrating against apartheid. The oppressive laws became even harsher, the penalties still heavier and the police still more trigger-happy. And on 19 October 1977, the only remaining legal organisations of the voteless black people were banned. On that day, the ANC declared: "Today's events have once again vindicated the line of action chartered by the ANC and its allies in the grim years of repression since the organisation was banned in 1960. In South Africa today, there is no road to freedom exept the armed road. The patch of non-violence and negotiation has been shut, not by us, but by Vorster and his police torturers and executioners' Mayibuye, the poetry- and musical collective of the ANC, gives artistic voice to the fight against apartheid. Their confident expectation is for a liberated future. Because no matter how fierce the struggle will be: the outcome is clear; apartheid will disappear and justice will inevitably prevail within the foreseeable future in South Africa. Mayibuye i Africa! Come back Africa! Song 1. Mandela Mandela narrator: For over 60 years the African National Congress of South Africa has been leading the people and mobilising them for struggle against oppression. It is a great privilege for us to extend friendship and greetings to the international solidarity forces support we so greatly value in our struggle against Apartheid, colonialism and imperialism. Our songs and poems have grown out of this struggle and express our determination to win our freedom. SONG cont. ROLIHLAHLA MANDELA Dedicated to Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela the ANC leader serving life imprisonment on Robben Island. 'Mandela Mandela Mandela says fight for freedom Mandela says freedom now All we say is away with slavery In our land of Africa. Rolihlahla Rolihlahla Mandela Freedom is in your hands Show us now the way to freedom In our land of Africa.' narrator: Our proud tradition of struggle is reflected in this song first sung in the fifties during the Defiance Campaign. It says "we are the followers of Luthuli, the jails are full, they show that we struggle for freedom". Song 2. Somlandela (Xhosa) Vuyusile Mini "We shall follow him". This song is one of those sung during the Defiance Campaign of 1952: The jails are full, they show that we struggle for our freedom'. It assures successive ANC leaders like Luthuli, Mandela and Tambo of the constant support of their followers. Its composer Vuyusile Mini was executed by the fascist regime on 6 November 1964. narrator: Many of our revolutionary songs were composed by Vuyusile Mini a trade unionist and ANC leader who had a magnificent bass voice. In 1964 he and two of his cbmrades were hanged by Verwoerd's government on trumped-up charges. Poem 1. A Poem of Vengeance (A.N.C. KUMALO) Mini, Big strong smiling Mini and Khayinga and Mkaba who loved life no less, have been robbed of their most precious possession, life. Our comrades fell in Verwoerd's Pretoria bitten in the neck by the hangman's knot. Have you seen life slipping away? I once saw my mother die on the sharp sand at Sharpeville. I hear Babla my brother cry and his body hitting concrete one hundred feet down from the interrogator's window. Have you seen the face of a man being beaten up? In prison when you hear the noise your heart-beats race. But worst of all is the sigh or shriek or cough or nothing just escaping air as life slips away. How did Mini and my brothers die in that secret hanging place? You may ask - please let me tell you - I know. Singing? Yes - but how they sing! Big firm Mini not smiling on this day a smile at the lips perhaps but the eyes grim always grim when facing the enemy. Heads high they walk strong united together singing Mini's own song 'Naants' indod' emnyama Verwoerd' - Watch out Verwoerd the black man will get you 'Watch out Verwoerd' the people have taken up this song 'Watch out Verwoerd' the world sings with Mini. And meeting Death in their front-line trench the three heroes shout into the grey teeth of the enemy 'We shall be avenged' and the people take up the shout 'Our heroes shall be avenged.' It is vengeance we want as the last precious gasps escape into the Pretoria air. Song 3. Naants' Indod' e Mnyama (Xhosa) Vuyusile Mini 'Beware! Verwoerd/Vorster, Behold the advancing black masses' This song was sung by its composer and his two comrades while on the gallows. Mini uses the Afrikaans phrase 'pas op'! (beware!) in this song as well as in Song 11. narrator: As our struggle has intensified so has the savagery of the regime increased. At least 46 political detainees have died during interrogation by the Secret Police. This poem is dedicated to Joseph Mkhuthusi Mdluli, an ANC veteran, brutally murdered by his interrogators in March 1976. Poem 2. Death of a Militant (A.N.C. Kumalo) He was a broad, powerfully-made man hard and tough as the baked earth burning with love for his country. He was a militant, tireless and fearless who to the cheers of a freedom rally pursued with war-cry and fighting sticks a police dog and its brute handler the length of Beatrice Street, Durban a decade and a half ago. He wore the volunteers uniform soldiered through the Defiance Campaign broke rock in prison quarries and at the age of fifty refused to set-aside the punishing load. They dragged him away in raincoat and slippers gentle Lydia trembling on the doorstep; by morning his life was over. He was of the rank-and-file and there were two thousand and his funeral. With the sound of their singing rising through the sombre mists we call to the widow stooped over the corpse and we vow: He shall be avenged! To the children limp beside the coffin we vow: He shall be avenged! To his comrades caged in prison we vow: He shall be avenged! To the people chained but unbroken we vow: He shall be avenged! To the brutes who battered his body we vow: He shade be avenged! And to their masters bestriding our birthright we vow: He shall be avenged! In the name of Mini, Ngudle, Saloojee By the deeds of Patrick, Michael, Basil and yesterday Reggie who fell on the fields of Zimbabwe we vow: He shall be avenged! And we raise the flag of black, green and gold colours smeared red with the blood of our fallen colours running red with the blood of Mkhuthuzi we vow: He shall be avenged! narrator: On 16 June 1976 racist police murdered hundreds of demonstrating schoolchildren, students and workers at Soweto. A nationwide uprising followed in which hundreds more were slaughtered and maimed by Vorster's gun-men. Poem 3. Where No Seed Bore Fruit Before (Barry Feinberg) In an authorised ghetto well-known as Soweto mine-dust blots a million dreams; particles which clung to gold deface the sun undermine the eyes make sweat speak of idle metal; shade is nowhere shadows dimly seen life and expectation appear only as illusion; chained to the sky the aged horizon shudders through a veil of grit Staggering this haze like an animated oasis a light brigade of freedom's apprentices - all eyes on rapid fire - advances with steady but adolescent stride throwing fists striking banners declaiming no slaves to afrikaans! (or to any usurper for that matter). A bite at the tongue of the tyrant With shriek and roar the saracens encircle armoured hides greased and gleaming sabre horns keen to dismember And blood raced where no water ran before The enraged and undernourished stand their ground stave off the metal herd with fragile crack of wood and rebounded stone off steel And blood raced where no water ran before An orgy of goring opened fountains onto sand and blood raced where no water ran before opened craters in rebel children and blood races where no water ran before opened canyons in bold mothers sank mines in proud fathers emptied their histories into ditches and dongas and blood raced where no water ran before and blood raced where no water ran before And seeks take root where no seed bore fruit before. Song 4. Unzima Lomthwalo (Zulu) Reverend Calata 'The burden of oppression is heavy, dedicated and selfless people are needed, prison and death will not deter us, we will continue to struggle until we have won our freedom'. narrator: Our song says "the burden of oppression is heavy, men and women are needed, prison and death will not deter us, we will continue to struggle until we have won our freedom. SONG cont. UNZIMA LOMTHWALO narrator: The people responded to the massacres with the slogan "mobilise don't mourn!" Massive strike action brought the Apartheid state to a standstill. This song was sung by the people as they faced the bullets of the police and soldiers. It says "don't be afraid, go forward, we are not far from freedom". Song 5. Ayanqikaza (Zulu) Cowards are now hesitating and saying its better to retreat — Heroes will be even more militant, for freedom is in Sight'. The sound of guns could not drown the sound of this song which was sung from Soweto to Gugulethu during the 1976 uprising. It typifies the spirit of courage and militancy of the present phase of the struggle. Poem 4 Standing armed on our own ground (Barry Feinberg) Remember the agony years (will they ever pass?) tears and blood like rain (but we are still bleeding!) This deluge dampened our fathers, diluted our mothers' milk, rendered tepid the heat of young sons. The land waxed fat on plunder, investors reaped thick harvest: a thieves rule keyed to chains. Man-bone hewn for paving stone the marrow served as mortar, man-sweat grew concrete towers and muscle nourished millionaires. Now looking back becalmed piercing with sharp black eyes, standing armed on our own ground firm on our feet of steel, we assess both cause and toll and cost the sacred path from casualty to liberty. narrator: The peoples patience is not endless. The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only 2 choices-submit or fight. That time has now come in South Africa. That challenge was laid down by the ANC on the foundation of its armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe, which means the Spear of the Nation. And this is Umkhonto's song - a song of battle. Song 6. Hamba Kahle Mkhonto (Xhosa) 'Go well Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) We Umkhonto cadres are prepared to kill the Boers'. This song was sung during the Zimbabwe campaign of 1967-8 when an Umkhonto unit ('Luthuli's detachment') alongside a ZAPU unit fought racist troops and inflicted heavy casualties. narrator: The armed struggle will take root in South Africa soil! The enemy's strength is not underestimated but neither is he invincible! The example of Algeria, Vietnam, Mozambique and Angola have shown the possibilities of defeating powerful military regimes. What counts is the determination to struggle of a united and armed people until final victory is secured. Our song says that the sound of gunfire is already being heard. Vorster and Kruger will be shot down. Song 7. Sizakuba Dubula (Xhosa) Vuyusile Mini 'We shall shoot them with rocket launchers They shall flee - Shoot them with rocket launchers!' This song is being sung all over South Africa at the present time. Poem 5. In Memory of a Warrior (Maxie Rodgers Lechuba) Son of Africa, you have gone to the ages. Carry the message of the times - that we are still on the journey. Move on the roaring thunder of our feet. Tell the sounds of gallantry armed with faith. To this unknown future, the journey is long. And it warns of its agony - yet the call beckons. We will move (fury tells on our minds) to this, the battle cry. Warrior, not long you were amongst the counted. Today you lie, cold in body but true to the spirit of all our yearnings - Freedom in our lifetime. Brave son of Africa, faithful to the spirit of the times - Freedom in our lifetime - you are still amongst the counted. It will not be in vain. Rest your bones, warrior, with this message: It will not be in vain. narrator: That poem is a memorial to Stanley Molefe and other Umkhonto soldiers who were killed in the Zimbabwe campaign of 1967/1968 when ANC soldiers joined with their ZAPU brothers against the combined forces of Smith and Forster. This song commemorates that campaign where Umkhonto used bazookas to wipe out the enemy. Coverback Song 8. E Rile (Sotho & Xhosa) 'Going back to South Africa they (Umkhonto cadres) first passed through Mozambique, then advanced to Zimbabwe where they took the enemy by surprise with bazookas. The same method shall be used to kill Vorster.' The first part of the song is in Sotho and the last part in Xhosa. narrator: The US and its Common Market allies are desperately trying to preserve Southern Africa for Imperialism. With the collapse of Portuguese colonialism one of their tactics is to search for collaborators among the Black people. The Bantustans and their puppet leaders have been exposed to the world as a fraud. This song is about Mathanzima "a murderer, and traitor to the people of Africa". Song 9. Wena Mathanzima (Zulu) This song denounces Mathanzima the puppet leader of the Transkei Bantustan as a murderer and a traitor to the African people. The song stresses that hope for the future lies in the armed struggle spearheaded by Umkhonto. narrator: In the wake of the Soweto uprising an ANC leaflet was distributed by leaflet bombs in the major city centres of South Africa. The leaflet included the following declaration: "We shall harras the enemy, his police,, soldiers, officials and spies wherever we can. Above all we shall arm ourselves with modern weapons and hit back through our organised fighting force UMKHONTO WE SIZWE! These racist murderers who slaughter unarmed children and women, fled in panic when they came face to face with the armed freedom fighters of UMKHONTO in Zimbabwe in 1967 and 1968. Their racist arrogance shrank when our MPLA comrades thrashed them in Angola. And now the time is coming when UMKHONTO will punish the racists on our own soil. The mass struggle of our people helps to bring that day nearer! These are not empty phrases. Since the leaflet a number of sabotage and guerilla actions have indeed taken place within South Africa. Our song calls on our people to rise up and fight for our country: "We will destroy Smith and Vorster with grenades and bazookas". Song 10. Abantu Bakithi (Zulu) 'Our people are poverty stricken Rise up and fight for our country Throw grenades and fire bazookas to defeat both Smith and Vorster' This song was first sung by the people during the uprising of 1976. Poem 6. Flight of the Spear (A.N.C. Kumalo) Let all behold the fiery trajectory of the spear of our ancestors: the unswerving course dissecting the fermament. Let all behold the flight of the spear piercing the night-time mind of generations; the gleaming spring of our progenitors illuminating the heavens. Let all behold the spear in flight; the singing metal cast from the mould of our red earth; the great shaft fashioned from the trees of our timeless forests. Let all behold the fearless truth; the spear of the nation aflame; the flash of lightning heralding the atmosphere Igniting! Inheritors of the land; you black ones; Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa, Shangaan; seize the spear! Seize the spear sons and daughters of giants; off-spring of Shaka, Makana, Moshoeshoe, Sekhukhuni; seize the spear that wings out of the mists of our exultant dawn! Seize the spear that can only be grasped when the blood is united! Seize the spear that can only strike pure when the mind is as sharp and firm as the cutting blade! Seize the spear that can only coot when we are masters in our own house! Seize the spear that can only sleep when our planet is reborn! Seize the spear O people, who are giants of this new age. narrator: The message to Vorster, Smith and to imperialism is clear: Izakunyatheli Africa! Africa will trample you underfoot! Song 11. Izakunyathel' I Africa (Xhosa) Vuyusile Mini 'Africa will trample you underfoot Vorster, beware! Poem 7. Today in Prison (Dennis Brutus) Today in prison by tacit agreement they will sing just one song: Nkosi Sikelela; slowly and solemnly with suppressed passion and pent up feeling: the voices strong and steady but with tears close and sharp behind the eyes and the mind ranging wildly as a strayed bird seeking some names to settle on and deeds being done and those who do the much that still needs to be done. Song 12. Nkosi Sikelel 'I Africa (Xhosa & Sotho) Enoch Sontonga 'Lord bless Africa Exalted be its fame Hear our prayers Lord grant us thy blessing Come spirit Come spirit come Come spirit come Come, holy spirit And bless us, her children' The national anthem of the ANC, which was composed as a hymn, has spread to many parts of Africa and has become the national anthem in several African states. The first part is sung in Xhosa; it is then repeated in Sotho. narrator: Long live solidarity with the Namibians, Zimbabweans, Chileans and Palestinians and with all people struggling against oppression! Long live sollidarity with all progressive forces! Long live internationalism! Amandla Ngawethu! Mayibuye Africa! VARAGRAM THE BEST OR RADIO AND TELEVISION ET44 Distributed by: African National Congress, 28 Pentonstreet, London N 1, and all other offices of A.N.C. Photos: Roland Sweering Sleevedesign: Grafische redaktie VARA Recording Engineers: Ruud Klein and Bert van Dijk. |
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NOTES* It should be mentioned that some lyrics featured in these songs as well as others not included on this album have become quite contentious in current debates in contemporary South Africa. Most notably "kill the Whites" and "kill the Boer" have drawn legal action maintaining that, although historic, they are unconstitutional and should be banned. Shirli Gilbert decribes Mayibuye as a "London-based ANC grouping that achieved considerable success in Europe with its agitprop performances incorporating narrative, poetry and song. Mayibuye was established in early 1975, and despite its rapidly shifting and amateur membership, functioned successfully for approximately five years, raising international awareness about the anti-apartheid cause, and simultaneously raising consciousness within the movement about the practical ways in which cultural activity could further the project of national liberation." The group was formed in January 1975 when ANC activists Barry Feinberg and Ronnie Kasrils approached, John Matshikiza (son of Todd Matshikiza and who was studying drama in London) and Billy Nannan (former member of the SA Indian Congress) about the project. Over the next five years key participants in the group included Godfrey Motsepe, Zarina Chiba, Melody Mancube, James Madhlope Phillips, Pallo Jordan, Bongi Dhlomo, Poppy Nokwe and others. For more about Mayibuye and Amandla, another ANC anti-apartheid cultural group, check out Shirli Gilbert's excellent essay "Singing Against Apartheid - ANC Cultural Groups and the International Anti-Apartheid Struggle" in COMPOSING APARTHEID, edited by Grant Olwage. Also check out Barry Feinberg's account of his experience with Mayibuye in his book A Time to Tell. Many thanks to Mike Pentelow for this reference. From that source we were able to able to identify all the artists involved. From left to right on the front cover: Zarina Chiba, Barry Feinberg, Jackie Maimane, Mandla Lubanga, Bongi Dhlomo, James Philips, Godfrey Motsepe, Simangela Mathabula, Wilson Nqose and Sobuzana Ngqakane. View the 1982 Russian issued album by Amandla here. The Mayibuye LP was also issued in Dutch as Die Speer van het Volk (ET 44) by the Dutch broadcasting organisation VARA. |
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