LOOK: Life-size statue of icon Johnny Clegg unveiled
A new life-size bronze statue of the iconic musician Johnny Clegg has been unveiled in celebration of the late singer.
A statue of the late singer, anthropologist, and anti-apartheid activist Johnny Clegg has joined the statues of Nelson Mandela and OR Tambo at the 'Long March to Freedom' exhibition in Cape Town.
The life-size bronze statue was unveiled on March 27.
Johnny's son, Jesse, and his daughter were present at the unveiling, along with his mother, Jenny, and his brother, Jaron.
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[WATCH] Pioneering South African musician, anthropologist, and anti-apartheid activist Johnny Clegg has been honoured with the unveiling of a bronze life-like statue. pic.twitter.com/bx7hgfyhSO
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 27, 2025
Singer, actress, activist, and motivational speaker Zolani Mahola took on the role of MC at the unveiling, while Jaron made a speech and Jesse performed.
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"On behalf of my family, I want to express our deepest gratitude to the 'Long March to Freedom' and the artists Xhanti Mpakama and Barry Jackson, who captured his spirit in the sculpture.
"This is more than a monument; it is a piece of him – something that will last for generations. To all gathered here, thank you for honouring him with this.
"It is hard to believe almost six years have passed since we lost him. Time moves forward, but loss doesn't fade – it settles into our lives. We feel it in the quiet moments, in the songs we still play. Yet today, we have something tangible. This statue is more than metal.
"It is a way of bringing him back into this world – something we can touch," Jaron said.
Other speakers and performers included Dali Tambo, Sepheu Tau Masemola, Max du Preez, and Msaki.
The statue shows Johnny singing and dancing, which the family describes as the way they remember him best.
"Dance was never just a performance; it was how he found clarity and how he grounded himself in something more than just music and words.
"It freezes in time the essence of a man who was always in motion, always pushing forward, always finding ways to connect across divides."
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During his performance, Jesse also explained that becoming a father has led him to rediscover who his father was.
"I aspire to be all that he was to me. I feel a deep sadness that my daughter never got to meet her grandfather, but a personal joy for me is that she is going to get to experience something of his presence – his physical presence in the world with this statue. Something for her to look at and to get a sense of who he was."
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Image: X/ Screenshot