Jazz Fought the struggle and won: the inspiring story of the jazz freedom fighters in exile lead by the magician of the ostinato – Johnny Mbizo Dyani.
Institutionalized racism on the one hand, denial and defense of exile on the other – how are these experiences processed artistically? And how do they flow into the oeuvre and consciousness of artistic work?
The first ever Jazz Against Apartheid concert took place in October 1986 at Quartier Latin Concert Hall. Dyani chanted "Think think think, it is good for you!" He collapsed backstage and was rushed to hospital. He remained in a coma for a week and eventually died from heart failure and internal bleeding. The South African…
South Africa and Germany share inglorious, burdening experiences in their history. The apartheid system in South Africa was inspired in essential points by the race laws of the National Socialists in Germany. And, as a result, the experiences of exile that the cultural avant-garde of both countries went through. Structurally similar is also the ignoring…
Johnny Mbizo Dyani is a frontline liberation music composer, a sentimental African Xhosa folk music performer and an avant-garde flag-bearer of the improvisational, free Jazz expression.
Jazz Fought the struggle and won: the inspiring story of the jazz freedom fighters in exile lead by the magician of the ostinato – Johnny Mbizo Dyani.
Poet Vusi “Macingwane” Mchunu told who was at the inaugural event and went on to record the life and passing of Johnny Dyani in the journal African Cultural-Literary Journal AWA – FINNABA that he co-produced and edited in West Berlin in 1984 – 1987. He performed poetry at a number of the JAA events
JAA is first of all a series of concerts organized by both musicians and
political/cultural activists. It is searching for allies and supporters and
remains a free association of people dedicated to the cause of freedom and individual and social solidarity and responsibility.
What has changed are the musicians – because of the deaths of all
but one of the original members of Johnny Dyani´s band in 1986. What remains the same is the music and its message: of liberation,
of the possibility of individual and collective freedom, of the necessity of political struggle while retaining one´s…
The bassist and composer Johnny Mbizo Dyani, along with the drummer Makaya Ntshoko, were some of the first to go into exile in Europe and, with a strong commitment, embodied the struggle for South Africa’s cultural memory. Both of them, as representatives of others, taught us that the sources of jazz are African. And both…
Johnny Dyani’s compositional approach combined Eastern Cape Folk Music with international progressive jazz, and the musical call to freedom.
“Nachwuchsforderung” – the conscious policy and practice of transferring societal values, knowledge and skills to the next generation – as a core focus for Jazz Against Apartheid
Who am I? What is my voice? What can I contribute to music?” Who we are is where we come from?
By singing the praises of our unsung heroes, the true heroes of the struggle for equality, freedom and self expression, we give meaning and common sense to the shared history of humanity.
Jazz Against Apartheid: “Beyond Exile” contributes to this knowledge within South Africa of South African music and musicians and what they continue to stand for.
