EVENTS

In our struggle, songs are not simply entertainment for us. They are the way we communicate. The press, radio and TV are all censored by the government. We cannot believe what they say. So we make up songs to tell us about events. Let something happen and the next day a song will be written about it. Miriam Makeba, 1988 Womens March 1956 Protestors at police station in Sharpeville 21 March 1960 Freedom Charter 26 June 1955 UWC - Robben Island Museum Mayibuye Archives UWC - Robben Island Museum Mayibuye Archives UWC - Robben Island Museum Mayibuye Archives The Langa March 30 March 1960 UWC - Robben Island Museum Mayibuye Archives Many songs emerged spontaneously in the heat of battle during various

political campaigns. Some songs came in the wake of major events. Treason trial 1956 Philip Kgosana addressing protestors De ance Campaign 1952 Photographer Eli Weinberg, Cof ns packed on trucks Sharpeville funerals during the Langa March Some songs were composed as a way to memorialise momentous events. UWC - Robben Island Museum Mayibuye Archives UWC - Robben Island Museum Mayibuye Archives UWC - Robben Island Museum Mayibuye Archives UWC - Robben Island Museum Mayibuye Archives

1952 DEFIANCE CAMPAIGN FREEDOM CHARTER WATHINT’ IMBOKHODO/ YOU HAVE 1956 TREASON TRIAL SHARPEVILLE 21 MARCH 1960 THE LANGA MARCH STRUCK A ROCK One of the popular songs during the 1952 De ance Campaign, a The Freedom Charter was adopted at the Congress of the A number of freedom songs emerged out of the Treason Vukani Mawethu (Arise my people),Hamilton Masiza’s On 30 March, local PAC leader, Phillip Kgosana led campaign organized by the Congress Alliance to protest against apartheid People in Kliptown, on 26 June 1955. The Freedom Charter During the march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria by a Trial, during which 156 leaders of the Congress Alliance composition, was played by SABC ‘Zulu announcer’, Stanley 30,000 protestors from Langa and Nyanga in a march laws, was Sikhalela izwe lakithi (We weep for our land), which was set out the core principles of the Congress Alliance which was delegation of 20,000 women on 9 August 1956, in protest were arrested and charged with high treason. At the Nkosi, who was also a PAC member, every 15 minutes for on Caldeon Square police station in Cape Town. inspired by Reuben Caluza’s i-Land Act. A song about Chief Albert made up of the ANC, the South African Indian Congress, the against the extension of pass laws to African women, the ANC’s annual conference on 16 December 1956, the 300 eight hours on the day before the PAC’s anti-pass protest in Luthuli, Somlandela (We will follow him), expressed a commitment to VUKANI MAWETHU South African Congress of Democrats and the Coloured protestors sang Wathint’ Imbokhodo (You have struck a delegates and people in the audience spontaneously the town of Sharpeville. Police opened re on the peaceful follow even if the road led to imprisonment. Another De ance campaign People's Congress. The rst demand set down by the Charter rock). This was a warning to the Minister of Native Affairs, sang The leaders are arrested, we demand their release. protest at Sharpeville on 21 March 1960, killing 69 people, Hay’ usizi lomnt’ omnyama song, Nkosi wagcine amaVoluntiya (God save the volunteers), was was ‘The People Shall Govern!’ The ANC declared 1980 the In his autobiography, Nelson Mandela recalled singing many of whom had been shot in the back as they turned to Strijdom. The song was apparently an adaptation of a ‘Zulu’ Oh the plight of the black person adapted from God save the Queen: year of the Freedom Charter. war song ’Wathint’ amadoda. The Women’s March, organized Nants’ indod’ emnyama with Mini in Johannesburg’s Old ee. In Langa police opened re on more than 1000 people eAfrika by the Federation of South African Women (Fedsaw) was led by Fort Prison. who had gathered in protest against the Sharpeville NKOSI WAGCINE AMAVOLUNTIYA IFREEDOM CHARTER Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophie Williams. shootings, killing three and wounding 26 of the protestors. in Africa GOD SAVE THE VOLUNTEERS THE FREEDOM CHARTER The Treason Trial involved leaders of the ANC, SACP, Zonk’ izizwe zisibeka SACTU, the SAIC, the Coloured Peoples Congress (CPC), British folk singer and labour activist, Ewan McColl composed Nkosi wagcine amaVoluntiya Emazweni The ANC Conference of 1957 acknowledged the role of the All the nations place us the Congress of Democrats (COD) and the Fedsaw. Nkosi wagcine amaAfrika In the countries women with the slogan Malibongwe Igama LamaKhosikazi ‘The Ballad of Sharpeville’ soon after the massacre. Spokes Mashiyane and his ‘Big Five’ Band organized Phantsi kweenyawo Sesith’ hi yebo, yebo Chief Luthuli Iyo bakhala ngani? (Let the women’s name be praised) which became the name of bene t concerts to raise funds for the Treason Trialists. THE BALLAD OF SHARPEVILLE underfoot Nawe Doctor Naicker, sikelela! Iyo what are they crying about? a popular song praising the role of women in the struggle. From the Cape to South West Africa Senze ntoni? Ityala likuthi God save the volunteers, God save Africans. Bakhala ngani? From the Transvaal to the sea, What do we do? The fault is ours God save the volunteers. God, save Africans. What are they crying about? In farm and village, shanty town, Vukani! We say yes, yes, Iyo bakhala ngani? The Pass Law holds the people down, Awaken! Chief Luthuli, And you, Doctor Naicker, liberate us. Iyo what are they crying about? The pass of slavery, DOM PASS! Hamilton John Masiza We say yes, yes, Chief Luthuli, IFreedom Charter Extract from ‘The Ballad of Sharpeville’ Teacher and preacher in Eastern Cape And you, Doctor Naicker, liberate us The Freedom Charter by Ewan MacColl (1960)