This year marks 35 years since Nelson Mandela was released from prison and apartheid was dismantled in South Africa.

To mark the anniversary we are revisiting an episode that looks at some of aspects of the anti-apartheid struggle that you might not know: pirate radio and protest songs.

Pirate radio was a weapon used by the African National Congress to inspire black South Africans and to counter propaganda and misinformation by the apartheid government. While protest songs performed by western musicians played a pivotal role in raising awareness in the rest of the world about the injustices in South Africa.

Songs mentioned in episode:

Biko, by Peter Gabriel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luVpsM3YAgw

Free Nelson Mandela, by The Special AKA https://youtu.be/FmKiq0mQd8c?si=5J-EdHYYZU4rbusW

Sun City, by Artists United Against Apartheid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BIvf-ZlJNc

Guest Info:

Sekibakiba Peter Lekgoathi (Ph.D.)

Associate Professor of History

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

SHOW INFO:

Show Info: 

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