Steven biko sat naked in a prison cell and waited for nineteen days. Jul 26, 2012 gabriel was thinking of writing a song about steve biko, the antiapartheid activist who died in police custody in 1977, when he came across a dutch radio station playing african music. He fought against the separation between black and whites, called apartheid the afrikaans term for separateness. The song had an enormous impact on the movement, introducing the issue of apartheid to people all. Steve biko 194678 is regarded as the father of the black consciousness movement in south africa and a key figure in bringing about the end of apartheid.
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. Biko had been arrested by the south african police in late august 1977. Biko by peter gabriel with lyrics all rights to artists, publishers, etc. The track was later included on his 1990 compilation shaking the tree. Steve biko was a key youth leader and, had he lived, would have emerged as a world figure. Selected writings, and steve biko black consciousness in south africa, and more on. It is about steve biko, a noted black south african antiapartheid activist. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Gabriel took note of the killing and began studying biko, reading three biographies about him. His death from injuries suffered while in police custody made him an international martyr for south african black nationalism after being expelled from high school for political activism, biko.
Biography of stephen bantu steve biko, antiapartheid. Gabriel did his research, reading three biographies as well as a book of bikos own writings. 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. A twodisc set spanning peter gabriels solo career, hit collects a treasure trove of material, from early singles such as solsbury hill through international hits biko, sledgehammer, big time, and more, to his recent film soundtrack work. Donald woods, biko s close friend and a leading white south african newspaper editor, exposed the murder helping to ignite the black revolution. Biko peter gariel a song about the police murder of. He rose to fame as the original lead singer of the progressive rock band genesis. The hit song biko, by peter gabriel, honored steve bikos legacy in 1980. It was the inspiration for the 1987 film cry freedom. Its also an excellent example of how seamlessly he uses elements of music.
His writings, his life work, and his tragic death were all historically crucial to the momentum and success of the south african antiapartheid movement. Nov 02, 2016 peter gabriel 10 of the best on youtube 2. On september 12, 1977, stephen biko, one of south africas most. Donald woods was forced into exile for attempting to expose the truth surrounding bikos death. 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.
On 12th september 1977, steve biko was murdered in his prison cell. Biko, released in 1980 on his third solo album, is the rare political song that isnt selfserving, condescending or pedantic biko plainly lays out the tragic story of murdered south african activist steve biko and serves as an introduction to gabriel the activist. The police arrested him at a roadblock, took him to a cell and five of them beat him for 22 hours until he was unconscious. Mar 24, 2020 steve biko, in full bantu stephen biko, born december 18, 1946, king williams town, south africadied september 12, 1977, pretoria, founder of the black consciousness movement in south africa. Through his example, he demonstrated fearlessness and selfesteem, and he led a black student movement countrywide that challenged and thwarted the culture of fear perpetuated by the apartheid regime. Biko is a biography about black consciousness movement leader and antiapartheid activist steve biko. 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.
Read all poems of stephen biko and infos about stephen biko. Nov 17, 2015 biko by peter gabriel with lyrics all rights to artists, publishers, etc. You can blow out a candle but you cant blow out a fire once the flames begin to catch the wind will blow it higher oh biko, biko, because biko yihla moja, yihla mojathe man is dead. Jun 10, 2019 the hit song biko, by peter gabriel, honored steve biko s legacy in 1980. Nov 05, 2017 biko peter gariel a song about the police murder of stephen biko in south africa. Mar 09, 2016 stephen bantu biko was an antiapartheid activist in south africa in the 1960s and 1970s.
At first, the police claimed that biko had died as the result of a hunger strike. The song is bookended with recordings of songs sung at bikos funeral. Biko plainly lays out the tragic story of murdered south african activist steve biko and serves as an introduction to gabriel the activist. Although press adverts announced it for release on 4 august unusually a monday release for charisma, whereas most of their singles came out on fridays charisma issued a press release advising stockists and media of the revised date due them having problems meeting the preorders. Oh biko, biko, because biko oh biko, biko, because biko yihla moja, yihla mojathe man is dead. Bantu stephen biko was an antiapartheid activist who was a founding. And the eyes of the world are watching now watching now.
Peter gabriel on 30 years of womad and mixing music with. The song had an enormous impact on the movement, introducing the issue of apartheid to people all over the world and inspiring other prominent artists to. Includes a live version of biko recorded in cleveland july 27, 1987. Donald woods, biko s close friend and a leading white south. For further information, i would suggest the book biko by donald woods on penguin. After leaving genesis in 1975, he launched a successful solo career with solsbury hill as his first single. Stephen biko remains a model and hero in the struggle for autonomy and selfdetermination for people around the world. This book covers the basic philosophy of black consciousness, bantustans, african culture, the institutional church and western involvement in apartheid. After leaving genesis in 1975, gabriel launched a successful solo career with solsbury hill as his first single. The legendary antiapartheid activist and leader of the black consciousness movement died in detention at just 30 years old in 1977, 40 years ago this september. Steve biko inspired a generation of black south africans to claim their true identity and refuse to be a part of their own oppression. Biko by peter gabriel is not simply a political rally song with an ability to facilitate. See more ideas about steve biko, african history and african american history.
Stephen bikos death in south africa in 1977 under the apartheid regime has become an iconic. When the south african black consciousness leader steve biko died in police custody in september 1977, journalist donald woods was at the forefront of the campaign to get the truth revealed about his death. His 1986 album, so, is his bestselling release and is certified triple platinum in the. Influenced by gabriel s growing interest in african musical styles, the song carried a sparse twotone beat played on brazilian drum and vocal percussion, in addition to a.
Stephen biko was a black activist in south africa during the apartheid years. See all books authored by steve biko, including i write what i like. Steve biko south african political leader britannica. In september 1977 leading south african antiapartheid activist stephen biko was. Gabriel was thinking of writing a song about steve biko, the antiapartheid activist who died in police custody in 1977, when he came across a dutch radio station playing african music. Stephen bantu biko 18 december 1946 12 september 1977 was an antiapartheid activist in south africa in the 1960s and 1970s. Biko, apartheid and raising consciousness peace is our. The set also includes a handful of previously unreleased tracks.
Posted on november 5, 2017 by opher stephen biko was a black activist in south africa during the apartheid years. His death from injuries suffered while in police custody made him an international martyr for south african black nationalism. Stephen bantu biko was an antiapartheid activist in south africa in the 1960s and 1970s. On 25 november 1987 peter was a guest on the bbc tv programme wogan alongside donald woods and his wife wendy. Peter brian gabriel born february 1950 is an english singer, songwriter, record producer and activist who rose to fame as the original lead singer and frontman of the progressive rock band genesis. Steve biko books list of books by author steve biko. English singer peter gabriel released biko in 1980 to commemorate steve biko, a south african antiapartheid activist who was tortured and killed in 1977. Donald woods was forced into exile for attempting to expose the truth. Donalds book biko had formed part of the inspiration for the song as well as the basis for the film cry freedom.
Peter gabriels 1980 song biko, richard attenboroughs. Its also an excellent example of how seamlessly he uses elements of music from other cultures, especially percussion, a. There is a lot to recommend about peter gabriel two aka scratch which came out in 1978. The political effectiveness of biko by peter gabriel researchgate. The statue of biko erected in east london in 1997 was made possible by donations from actors denzel washington and kevin kline, musician peter. It was written by the liberal white south african journalist donald woods, a personal friend of biko. In the studio version of biko by peter gabriel, what are. The statue of biko erected in east london in 1997 was made possible by donations from actors denzel washington and kevin kline, musician peter gabriel and business magnate richard branson, who.
Burn you up, burn you down, blood of eden radio edit, and downside up live. Synopsis this portrait of south african black leader steve biko includes the testimony of peter jones, who was arrested with biko, and the story of the authors escape from south africa after leading the public outcry over bikos death. Peter brian gabriel born february 1950 is an english singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and activist. Biko was a more overt political song than the work of graceland, but graceland introduced millions of people around the world to what was wonderful about south african music. September 77 port elizabeth weather fine it was business as usual in police room 619 oh biko, biko, because biko oh biko, biko, because biko yihla moja, yihla moja the man is dead the man is dead. Subjected to 22 hours of interrogation, torture and beating by south african police on september 6, 1977, steve biko died six days later. The song was included on gabriel s third album, peter gabriel 1980. Gabriel wrote the song after hearing of biko s death on the news. Stephen biko and the torture aesthetic escholarship. Woods fled to england that year, where he campaigned against apartheid and further publicised bikos life and death, writing many newspaper articles about him, as well as a book, biko 1978. A student leader, he later founded the black consciousness movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population.
Interestingly, peter gabriel downplayed the significance and importance of this song. 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. Biko is a protest song by british rock musician peter gabriel. Studios, peters third selftitled album was produced by steve lillywhite. Peter gabriel biko lyrics meaning lyric interpretations. Donald woods, bikos close friend and a leading white south african newspaper editor, exposed the murder helping to ignite the black revolution. September 77 port elizabeth weather fine it was business as usual in police room 619 oh biko, b.
See more ideas about steve biko, african history and black history. At seven and onehalf minutes, it was the albums longest song. The second track is an instrumental no more apartheid pretty good but sounds a little bit 80ish. Delicate sound of thunder expanded new edition duration. Steve biko, in full bantu stephen biko, born december 18, 1946, king williams town, south africadied september 12, 1977, pretoria, founder of the black consciousness movement in south africa. 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. The legendary true story of steve biko and the friendship that defied apartheid. See more ideas about steve biko, african and apartheid. Biko was included on gabriel s third solo album peter gabriel iii 1980 a.
This portrait of south african black leader steve biko includes the testimony of peter jones, who was arrested with biko, and the story of the authors escape from south africa after leading the public outcry over biko s death. The defence that biko provided for arrested saso activists was used as the basis for the 1978 book the testimony of steve biko, edited by millard arnold. Biko, released in 1980 on his third solo album, is the rare political song that isnt selfserving, condescending or pedantic. 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. Books can be a much better source of social comment than rock songs, and yet rock. Browse the worlds largest ebookstore and start reading today on the web, tablet, phone, or ereader. Peter gabriel said in the under african skies documentary. Stephen biko poems, quotations and biography on stephen biko poet page. His childhood experiences and character, lead him to become a powerful leader.
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