Johnny Clegg has died: South Africa mourns the man with the ‘Great Heart’

johnny clegg music south africa

Johnny Clegg, one of South Africa’s most influential musicians of the late 1980s, has died.

The news broke on Tuesday, however Clegg has been struggling with pancreatic cancer since 2015.

British-born Clegg, for those born in the 2000s, is perhaps best known for his 1988 hit “Great Heart”. His solo tracks, along with his bands Juluka and Savuka, were also featured in movies like Invictus, Rain Man and George of the Jungle.

Understandably, #JohnnyClegg began trending across Twitter in South Africa late on Monday.

Those in politics, the music industry, and fans expressed their shock at the news, and remembered Clegg’s legacy.

https://twitter.com/NathiMthethwaSA/status/1151188562605461504

Clegg joins the likes of rugby legend James Small, actress Nomhle Nkonyeni, and footballer Marc Batchelor who have all died within the past two weeks.

Feature image: Andy Walker/Memeburn

Andy Walker, former editor
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