Jazz’s Blog

In the Anti-Apartheid movement, music was something to give the strugglers (blacks) strength and encouragement. They used it in almost all occasions, and what it sounds like from the film is that many of these songs were spur-of-the-moment bursts of emotion that brought the group closer together. They sang during funerals, riots, interviews and more, which shows that it was very influential to them. Music had such power to give them hope, and it was also obviously used to speak badly about the white police and government, even though they were right there. To the whites, they wanted to look happy and obedient, when really they were shouting to the top of their lungs that they would one day get revenge on those same people.

It was clear that remembering the songs and the days in which they were sang was very emotional for the people who actually lived through it. Music was effective for them because it’s easy to get everyone involved, and it would be hard for the police to protest something like that. It’s something that everyone can enjoy and even you don’t like to sing (like me) then you can listen and still be as moved as if you were taking part in it.

At the end of the school year, I did a presentation on music and its effects on the brain, and music can be very therapeutic. Obviously most, or all of the people involved in the riots and everything were constantly thinking about all their troubles with the government, and music helps to reduce stress, so singing as a group must have been good for the overall wellness of everyone around. It sounds like even the guards and policemen were enjoying the tunes of the South Africans. Music can also be very influential and powerful; yet another reason why it brought the organizations together on all occassions. Even though many of the songs were sung a capella, it still counts as music and with those uplifting lyrics, the people regained their strength to fight for change. There’s nothing else that could have brought the people as close together as the powerful melodies they created in the moment.

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