only colour light and music
to our hearts and souls
says the Daily Maverick
reporting on the passing
of Johnny Clegg (1953–Forever)
1953–Forever they say
as his music will
be played on
a long time after
the glowing accolades

Yet another says
The dance ends
for Johnny Clegg
South Africa’s beloved
musical storyteller

born out yonder, Rochdale
to my knowledge
no one here has
called him an alien
or anything the nastier

raised a bit in Zimbabwe
then peri-urban Johannesburg
and its townships were
his teenage stomping ground

this 15 year old was taught
Zulu music and traditional dancing
by Charlie Mzila following him
guitar in hand to all
the migrant labour haunts
from hostels to rooftop shebeens

(this we hear from
the Final Journey official programme)

he who brought only
colour light and music
to our hearts and souls
has now made
his final journey