See more ideas about steve biko, african history and black history. Donald woods, bikos close friend and a leading white south african newspaper editor, exposed the murder helping to ignite the black revolution. Jun 10, 2019 the hit song biko, by peter gabriel, honored steve biko s legacy in 1980. After leaving genesis, gabriel went on to a successful solo career. Why the song i believe steve biko was very important.
Steve biko was a key youth leader and, had he lived, would have emerged as a world figure. Steven biko we are looking forward to a nonracial, just and egalitarian society in which color, creed and race shall form no point of reference. A student leader, he later founded the black consciousness movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population. The book is also critical of the white government of south africa and the apartheid system. Townhouse studios, peters third selftitled album was produced by steve lillywhite.
In 1980 english singersongwriter peter gabriel released a single in tribute to him called biko, which became a top 40 hit on the uk charts and a mainstay of his live performances. Peter gabriel released 22nd may, 1980 recorded both at his home studio at ashcombe house, near bath, and at londons townhouse studios, peters third selftitled album was produced by steve lillywhite. At seven and onehalf minutes, it was the albums longest song. Gabriel took note of the killing and began studying biko, reading three biographies about him. The song is bookended with recordings of songs sung at bikos funeral. Biko was dead, murdered by the south african police. For further information, i would suggest the book biko by donald woods on penguin. We are experiencing new problems every day and whatever we do adds to the richness of our cultural heritage as long as it has man as its centre. Biko is a protest song by british rock musician peter gabriel. His writings, his life work, and his tragic death were all historically crucial to the momentum and success of the south african antiapartheid movement.
This song is an incredible homage to a true hero whom i admire even more than mlk because biko s passion for his cause was visceral. As a student, during the early 1970s, biko fought against apartheid in many ways. Gabriel sang the piece at nelson mandela 70th birthday tribute concert at wembley stadium in 1988. Biko had been arrested by the south african police in late august 1977. Bikos last days deaths in detention 1963 1990 burying biko biko peter gabriel official cause of death no one to blame guilty as charged black wednesday no truth at the trc black consciousness after biko is biko dead forget we will not liberate your mind biko lives. In the studio version of biko by peter gabriel, what are. His influence became especially significant when he embarked on a solo career in the late 1970s. The horrible sin for which they brutally took his life was spreading knowledge and selflove. Today is the 40th anniversary of the death of steve biko. He was the lead singer of leading progressive rock band genesis from its inception until he left in 1975 for a successful solo career as a singersongwriter, soundtrack composer and innovator in visual presentation of music, music videos and digital methods of recording and distributing music. Peter brian gabriel born february 1950 is an english singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and activist. The song had an enormous impact on the movement, introducing the issue of apartheid to people all over the world and inspiring other prominent. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Selected writings, and steve biko black consciousness in south africa, and more on.
Stephen bantu biko was an antiapartheid activist in south africa in the 1960s and 1970s. For those not familiar with his story, he was the leader of the black consciousness movement which inspired many young south africans to fight apartheid read more. Revisit our september 1986 interview with peter gabriel. Biko by peter gabriel is not simply a political rally song with an ability to facilitate. This book covers the basic philosophy of black consciousness, bantustans, african culture, the institutional church and western involvement in apartheid. From 1969, when he became president of saso, the allblack south african students organization, until his death in detention in september 1977, steve biko confronted the conditions of black demoralization in speeches, assorted writings, court testimony, andas anglican priest aelred stubbs appended memoir attestsby his infectious high spirits.
The sun city project, which included a record, video, and book, was. On 12th september 1977, steve biko was murdered in his prison cell. The hit song biko, by peter gabriel, honored steve bikos legacy in 1980. By all accounts he was very smart, charismatic, had a great sense of humour, and could have had a key role in the shaping of a new south africa. Biko is an antiapartheid protest song by english rock musician peter gabriel. Gabriel did his research, reading three biographies as well as a book of bikos own writings.
Interestingly, peter gabriel downplayed the significance and importance of this song. Biko was included on gabriel s third solo album peter gabriel iii 1980 a. He was brutally beaten in an interrogation room in port elizabeth and died from his injuries soon after. The idea is to do it like a magazine, which will only come out. Books can be a much better source of social comment than rock songs, and yet rock. He was also portrayed by denzel washington in the oscarnominated film cry freedom 1987, based on the posthumous book by bikos friend, antiapartheid journalist donald woods. Eventually, in 1972, he was kicked out of the university of natal. The organization later changed into the black consciousness movement, and elected biko as its first president in 1968. Bantu stephen biko was a young south african leader who died in 1977 as a result of injuries received during interrogations by the south african security police. In february 1973, the south african apartheid government banned biko. The song was included on gabriel s third album, peter gabriel 1980. Stephen biko is known internationally as the founder of the south african students organization saso, and a leading force in the south africa black consciousness movement.
The young steve biko and his colleagues had seized the shoulder of the sleeping giant of black awareness in south africa to shake him from his slumber. Lyrics to biko by peter gabriel from the peter gabriel 3 album including song. A man holds a picture of south african students leader steve biko, at his funeral in king williams town, 1977. His parents had married in whittlesea, where his father worked as a police officer. Peter gabriel was educated at charterhouse school, surrey, england. Stephen biko had the courage to work and speak out for justice in south africa. Steven biko sat naked in a prison cell and waited for nineteen days. This song is about the south african antiapartheid veteran steve biko, who in 1977 was killed by police officers while in custody for related political reasons. Subjected to 22 hours of interrogation, torture and beating by south african police on september 6, 1977, steve biko died six days later. We deliver the joy of reading in 100% recyclable packaging. In september 1977 leading south african antiapartheid activist stephen biko was.
He fought against the separation between black and whites, called apartheid the afrikaans term for separateness. Peter gabriel biko lyrics meaning lyric interpretations. This following is the solo discography of peter gabriel, an english singersongwriter, musician and humanitarian activist who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock band genesis. Biko is taken from peters third selftitled solo album.
The album has been acclaimed as gabriels artistic breakthrough as a solo artist and for establishing him as one of rocks most ambitious and innovative musicians. Peter gabriel has always fearlessly used his music for social and political commentary. Steve biko simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It was released by charisma records as a single from gabriels eponymous third album in 1980. The third child of mzingaye mathew biko and alice mamcete biko, he had an older sister, bukelwa, an older brother, khaya, and a younger sister, nobandile. Biko covers the life of south african antiapartheid activist steve biko from the view of his friend donald woods. See more ideas about steve biko, african and apartheid. Gabriel and ezrin assembled musicians, including guitarist robert fripp, and his future king crimson bandmate tony levin on bass.
This song is an incredible homage to a true hero whom i admire even more than mlk because bikos passion for his cause was visceral. Biko was an antiapartheid activist and immortalized in a song by peter gabriel. After preparing material for an album gabriel recorded his solo debut, peter gabriel in 1976 and 1977 in toronto and london, with producer bob ezrin. Stephen biko remains a model and hero in the struggle for autonomy and selfdetermination for people around the world. His childhood experiences and character, lead him to become a powerful leader. Biography of stephen bantu steve biko, antiapartheid. Biko pays homage to south african antiapartheid activist stephen bantu biko who died in 1977 while in police detention. This is a book that should be taught in all political science classes, but really i am glad it is not. It attacks the mistreatment of blacks and the brutality commonly used by the police. Biko is from peter gabriel s 1980 selftitled album release.
Jul 26, 2012 it began, as did his political activism, with his 1980 hit biko. Steve biko books list of books by author steve biko. Nov 17, 2015 biko by peter gabriel with lyrics all rights to artists, publishers, etc. Unisa to confer posthumous honorary degree on steve biko johannesburg the university of south africa unisa will on thursday confer an honorary degree of doctor of literature and philosophy dlitt et phil posthumously on black consciousness doyen and martyr of the struggle for liberation, stephen bantu. Peter gabriel is the debut solo studio album by english progressive rock singersongwriter peter gabriel and the first of four with the same eponymous title. Released on 25 february 1977, it was produced by bob ezrin. Peter gabriel is the third eponymous solo album by english rock musician peter gabriel, released on 23 may 1980 by charisma records. English singer peter gabriel released biko in 1980 to commemorate steve biko, a south african antiapartheid activist who was tortured and killed in 1977. Share steven biko quotations about consciousness, south africa and country. He was only 31, but his vision and charisma captured in this collection of his work had already transformed the agenda of south african politics. All were labelled peter gabriel, using the same typeface, with designs by hipgnosis. His writings, his life work, and his tragic death were all historically crucial to the momentum and success of the south african antiapartheid.
Steve biko south africa is home to a great supply of natural resources, inherent beauty, and one of the greatest political and social travesties of. Gabriel was thinking of writing a song about steve biko, the antiapartheid activist who died in police custody in 1977, when he. After leaving genesis in 1975, he launched a successful solo career with solsbury hill as his first single. His 1986 album, so, is his most commercially successful, selling five million copies in america, and the albums. The track was later included on his 1990 compilation shaking the tree. Aug 04, 2019 revisit our september 1986 interview with peter gabriel. Peter gabriel on 30 years of womad and mixing music with. Donald woods, biko s close friend and a leading white south african newspaper editor, exposed the murder helping to ignite the black revolution. Biko by peter gabriel with lyrics all rights to artists, publishers, etc. The legendary true story of steve biko and the friendship that defied apartheid.
Ever since peter gabriel fronted progressive rock band genesis, from the late 1960s until the mid 1970s, journalists and academics alike have noted the importance of gabriels contribution to popular music. The album has been acclaimed as gabriel s artistic breakthrough as a solo artist and for establishing him as one of rocks most ambitious and innovative musicians. See all books authored by steve biko, including i write what i like. The song is a musical eulogy, inspired by the death of the black south african antiapartheid activist steve biko in police custody on 12 september 1977. It is about steve biko, a noted black south african antiapartheid activist. Written by peter gabriel the single features a live version of the song. Gabriel secured his place in the annals of popular music history through his poignant. B1, peter gabriel, shankar and little steven, no more apartheid lp version. Donalds book biko had formed part of the inspiration for the song as. Oh biko, biko, because biko oh biko, biko, because biko yihla moja, yihla mojathe man is dead when i try to sleep at night i can only dream in red the outside world is black and white with only one colour dead oh biko, biko, because biko oh biko, biko, because biko yihla moja, yihla mojathe man is dead you can blow out a candle but you cant. It began, as did his political activism, with his 1980 hit biko. Bantu stephen biko was born on 18 december 1946, at his grandmothers house in tarkastad, eastern cape. In 1980, the song reached the top 40 in the uk and almost.
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