Fifty years after the Soweto Uprising, the events of 16 June 1976 remain a pivotal moment in South African history. The student-led protests against the forced use of Afrikaans in schools ignited a nationwide resistance movement that drew global attention to apartheid.
The role of music
While the uprising unfolded in the streets, its legacy was carried through music. Artists documented injustice, mourned the dead, and inspired resistance. Some songs emerged directly from 1976, while others reflected the broader liberation struggle the uprising energised.
10 songs that captured the struggle
- ‘It’s Wrong (Apartheid)’ by Stevie Wonder: Released in 1985, the track reflected growing international opposition to apartheid. It featured exiled South African musicians and African musical influences, urging global audiences to oppose racial segregation.
- ‘Freedom Is Coming Tomorrow’ by Mbongeni Ngema: Popularised through the stage production Sarafina! and its film adaptation, the song captured the optimism of South Africa’s youth. Written by Mbongeni Ngema, it drew on the experiences of students at the forefront of resistance. During the 1980s State of Emergency, Sarafina! provided a cultural platform for the Soweto generation’s story.
- ‘Meadowlands’ by Strike Vilakazi: Two decades before the uprising, Strike Vilakazi composed this song in response to the forced removals from Sophiatown. Released in 1956, it disguised protest as celebration, appearing to praise relocation while listeners understood it as a critique of apartheid’s social engineering.
- ‘Mannenberg’ by Abdullah Ibrahim: The instrumental piece, released in 1974, became closely associated with township resilience. Without lyrics, its melody conveyed identity and determination, transforming it into an unofficial soundtrack of the liberation struggle.
- ‘Fire in Soweto’ by Sonny Okosun: Nigerian musician Sonny Okosun responded to the uprising with this 1978 release. The song connected the South African students’ struggle to broader liberation movements in Zimbabwe and Namibia, reflecting pan-African solidarity against colonialism and oppression.
- ‘Bring Him Back Home’ by Hugh Masekela: Written during his exile, the song combined a direct demand for Nelson Mandela‘s release with a memorable melody. It became an anthem of the international anti-apartheid movement in the late 1980s.
- ‘Black President’ by Brenda Fassie: Co-written with producer Sello ‘Chicco’ Twala, the track celebrated Mandela’s 1990 release and the optimism of South Africa’s democratic transition. It represented the fulfilment of aspirations nurtured through decades of struggle.
- ‘Soweto Blues’ by Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba: Written by Hugh Masekela and performed by Miriam Makeba, the song directly addressed the killings of students on 16 June 1976 and condemned the education policies that sparked the protests. Makeba’s performance carried the story to international audiences.
- ‘Asimbonanga’ by Johnny Clegg and Savuka: Released in 1987, the song paid tribute to Mandela and other imprisoned leaders. Its blend of Western pop and Zulu musical traditions symbolised a vision of a united, non-racial South Africa.
- ‘Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika’ by Enoch Sontonga: Composed in 1897 as a Christian hymn, this song evolved into a central anthem of resistance across Southern Africa. Sung at political rallies, funerals, and protests, including those after the Soweto Uprising, it embodied the aspirations of the liberation movement for generations.
