South African singer and songwriter Jesse Clegg paid a heartfelt tribute to his late and legendary father, Johnny Clegg, on what would have been the icon’s 73rd birthday.
On Saturday, Clegg took to social media, playing a four-string guitar, to share a song for his late father.
Johnny Clegg, a legendary musician, anthropologist, and anti-apartheid activist, found fame in the 1970s. He formed two groundbreaking multiracial bands: Juluka (with Sipho Mchunu) in the 1970s and Savuka in the 1980s.
Despite his music being banned on many South African radio stations during apartheid, Clegg achieved immense underground and international success. His music challenged apartheid, promoted unity, and bridged cultural divides.
Clegg’s legacy is profound, having been awarded France’s Chevalier des Arts et Lettres and the Order of Ikhamanga in South Africa. He performed globally and became a hero in South Africa.
In his later years, Clegg toured with his son, Jesse, and performed farewell concerts as his health declined. Sadly, the music legend lost his battle to pancreatic cancer in 2019.
Jesse Clegg shares tribute for his father
Six years after his father’s death, Jesse Clegg – a South African idol in his own right, – shared a gentle tribute to his father.
The 36-year-old singer and songwriter performed a version of Juluka’s ‘Inkunzi Ayihlabi Ngokumisa’ from the album Universal Men, released in 1979.
“Happy birthday Dad. A song for you,” wrote Clegg, adding: “This is a beautiful old Juluka song that I’ve listened to since I was a child. It’s always felt like a lullaby to me and brings me home – to you, to our family, to all we’ve lost and still hold close.”
Clegg shared the clip on social media:
WATCH:
Happy birthday Dad. A song for you.
This is a beautiful old Juluka song that I’ve listened to since I was a child.
It’s always felt like a lullaby to me and brings me home – to you, to our family, to all we’ve lost and still hold close.Rest easy Dad, we miss you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/jVtxyQTBRN
— Jesse Clegg (@Jesse_Clegg) June 7, 2025
“Rest easy Dad, we miss you,” he wrote, sharing a gentle tribute to his father, a late legend.
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