SOUTH AFRICAN URBAN MUSIC MEADOWLANDS – STRIKE VILAKAZI (1956)

SOPHIATOWN JAZZ: Meadowlands Listening 7 structural comments based on the recording of Meadowlands by Nancy Jacobs and her Sisters from the CD: A History of Music; compiled by Wrasse Records: www.wrasserecords.com

BACKGROUND: In 1950, the South African government passed the Group Areas Act, which set aside certain areas where only a particular race was allowed to live. As a result of this Act, all blacks living in so-called white areas had to move to new areas set aside solely for black occupation. The freehold suburb of Sophiatown, which had been established just before the turn of the 20th century by a speculator named Tobiansky, where blacks, whites, coloureds, Chinese and Indians lived, was scheduled for removal by the government as early as 1953. The ANC protested against the removals and started and 18th month campaign against the proposed removals but, two days before the removals were scheduled to take place, 2000 police, armed with automatic rifles, invaded Sophiatown and started moving out the first families. The planned armed resistance was nowhere to be seen and on the first night, 110 families were moved out of Sophiatown to the new township of Meadowlands in Soweto. The song Meadowlands was written at this time and it has since become one of the most popular melodies to come out of that period of ’s history.

THE COMPOSER: Strike Vilakazi was a record producer at Trutone Records and was one of the most influential people in African music in the 1950s and 1960s. Aside from this, however, little is known about his life and there does not appear to be a record of his dates of birth and death.

THE MUSIC:

Instrumentation: On this recording, we hear the following instruments – all typical of Township Jazz: • Female Lead vocal (Nancy Jacobs) • Soprano & Alto backing vocals (Tillie Jacobs, Pamela Clarens) • (Todd Matshikiza) • Guitar (Unknown) • Bass (Unknown) • Drums (Unknown) Lyrics: The lyrics of Meadowlands are written in three languages: Zulu, SeSotho and tsotsitaal – a kind of slang that incorporated English, Afrikaans , Zulu, SeSotho and Tswana.

The lyrics sent out a mixed message: the white government represented by the Peri-Urban Health Board thought that they supported the governments’ actions (Verse 1) but, in reality, they were a protest against the forced removals from Sophiatown (Verse 2). The slogan “ons pola hier” was painted all over buildings in Sophiatown indicating the residents’ protest against the forced removals.

LYRICS TRANSLATION Otla utlwa makgowa a re, You'll hear the whites say: A re yeng ko Meadowlands Let's move to Meadowlands; Meadowlands, Meadowlands, Meadowlands Meadowlands, Meadowlands sithandwa sam Meadowlands, my love.

Otlwa utlwa batsotsi ba re, You'll hear the tsotsis say, Ons dak nie ons pola hier We're not moving, we're staying here Pola hier pola hier, Stay here, stay here, Pola hier sithandwa sam Stay here, my love.

Rhythm, Melody and Harmony: The melody is syncopated, repetitive and has a limited range. Apart from the rising 4th at the beginning of the verse, the rest of the melody moves by step.

The chorus is characterised by the repetitive 3-note rhythmic motive that fits the word: Meadowlands. This also moves down by step after the first four repetitions of the motive.

The harmonic structure is simple (based on the chord progression): I – IV – V – I.

There is no modulation.

Interest is created by the backing vocals and the improvisatory nature of the right hand of the piano part.

Texture: Homophonic / Melody & Accompaniment with some polyphony which is created by the accompanying instruments – see listening comments below.

Structure: The phrase structure is balanced and constructed of 4- or 8-bar phrases.

SECTION LYRICS COMMENT BARS INTRODUCTION N/A Piano with guitar and drum kit. 4 bars VERSE 1 Sizohamba… (Lyrics in Zulu) Solo female vocals with female 8 bars backing vocals singing a repetitive ostinato on the word “Meadowlands”. Accompanied by drum kit, bass and guitar. CHORUS Meadowlands, Meadowlands, Repetitive lyrics “Meadowlands” with 8 bars Meadowlands sithandwa sam. harmonisation by backing singers. Same accompaniment as Verse 1 – listen for walking bass line acting as a link between 1st and 2nd half of chorus. VERSE 2 Otla utlwa makgowa a re, Similar accompaniment as previously 8 Bars A re yeng ko Meadowlands. with improvised piano figures in the right hand. CHORUS Meadowlands, Meadowlands, More improvisation in the piano part. 8 Bars Meadowlands Drum kit and guitar maintain same sithandwa sam accompaniment as previously.

VERSE 3 Otlwa utlwa batsotsi ba re, 8 Bars Ons dak nie ons pola hier,

CHORUS Pola hier pola hier, Same melodic structure as previous 8 Bars Pola hier sithandwa sam choruses but the words are different. VERSE 4 Same words as Verse 3: Same melodic & accompaniment 8 Bars Otlwa utlwa batsotsi ba re, structure but with increasingly Ons dak nie ons pola hier interests strucut. Pola hier pola hier, Ends on a high note by the vocalists to 8 Bars Pola hier sithandwa sam create a more final ending.

COMPARISON: It’s a good idea to source more than one recording of the work and to do a comparison between the different versions. Two other good interpretations are:

• Meadowlands from the soundtrack of the movie Sophiatown performed by Dorothy Masuka. Little Bird / Sophiatown Partnership / France 2; 2003.Distributed by Gallo Record Company. • Meadowlands performed by Mike Makhalemele from the CD Essential African Standards. www.sheer.co.za

USEFUL RESOURCES: 1. CD: A History of Township Music; Wrasse Records. 2. DVD: Amandla: A revolution in 4-part harmony. 3. http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/sophiatown50.htm#.UQLSEx2yCSo 4. http://www.ekayasolutions.com/FRS003/FRS003ClassLectures/Meadowlands.pdf 5. http://www.flatinternational.org/chronology.php 6. http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/265/2/the-sounds-of-resistance-the-role-of-music- in-south-africas-anti-apartheid-movement 7. http://www.jazzrendezvous.co.za/special/spe2006062701.php 8. http://1001sasongs.wordpress.com/2011/06/10/meadowlands-%E2%80%93-archie-coker- the-meteors/