The South African Civil Society Information Service
A nonprofit news agency promoting social justice. Seeking answers to the question:
How do we make democracy work for the poor?
A nonprofit news agency promoting social justice. Seeking answers to the question:
How do we make democracy work for the poor?
25 Nov 2013
South African contemporary rock fusion band, All Clear, has just released a superb rock song, Amandla Marikana - from their Faster than Light album - that remembers the slain miners of Marikana and draws attention to the ongoing struggles of minerworkers today.
All Clear is a three-year-old band that describe themselves as, "dedicated to producing original but popular and accessible music with powerful rhythms that draw on many traditions - rock, reggae, folk, ska, jazz and pop - and uses all these to create music that is at once lyrical and socially aware." All Clear want to do more than just get your body moving on the dance floor, they want to get your brain moving too.
Sing to the superb lyrics of Amandla Marikana!
AMANDLA MARIKANA!
Miners underground sweating in the heat
Miners above ground never enough to eat
Miners underground fearing daily for their lives
Miners above ground separated from their far off wives
Chorus
New dawn, what is to be done?
New day – there’s a struggle to be won
Amandla Marikana!
Platinum, white gold for the rich they go crazy with this new Midas itch
Workers dig with aching bones and backs for cold water in rundown shacks
Company says, all profits reserved that’s what investors deserve
Go on strike but you’ll get no pay soon you’ll bend to our power play
Chorus
New dawn, time to resist
New day rising – through the bloody mist
Amandla Marikana!
Tired of sweetheart union leaders Wabenzi liberation cheaters
Worker warriors take their place ready to defend the miners’ case
On Wonderkop hill they take their stand gather together, make their demands
Down tools for a ‘living wage’ prepare to break the bosses’ cage
Chorus
New dawn rising with the sun
New day shining – off the barrel of a gun
Amandla Marikana!
‘Law and order’ must be restored no price too high to afford
Government bosses send in the cops stake out an ambush, the bullets don’t stop
Nightfall on Wonderkop hill even the vultures are shocked and still
34 miners fallen to earth blood more precious than platinum’s worth
Chorus
Amandla Marikana!
Amandla Ngawethu!
© All Clear
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All Clear
"All Clear", put simple truth in front of our noses, so we can't ignore it anymore. The moral is clear: undermining racial discrimination is very important but it does not undermine exploitation. I especially liked "Wabenzi liberation cheaters".
