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De La Rey and Impi

05/13/07

De La Rey and Impi

Permalink 08:48:10 pm, Categories: Views and Reviews, Kultcha, 398 words

If you are in South Africa I am sure you have heard all the commotion about the De La Rey song sung by Bok van Blerk. Our South African Department for Arts and Culture's issued a statement regarding the song "De la Rey" (which is a tribute to Koos de la Rey) regarding the controversy that arose due to the popularity of the song with right-wing Afrikaners, who interpret the lyrics as a call to armed battle.

For those who want to know what the song is about its basically about an event in the history of our country. In the song the Afrikaners fighting the British Empire in the 2nd Anglo-Boer War call on their general, Koos de la Rey, who was regarded as one of the finest military minds for his time. It was only through using dreadful tactics by Lord Kitchener such as 'Scorched earth' policy and confining all the woman and children of the Afrikaners in concentration camps, that the British Empire was able to bring the Boer warriors under control.

I am an English South African but even I found this song to be stirring and powerful. It reminded me about a very important event in our history and is a part of our cultural identity.

Now on to Impi sung by Johnny Clegg and Juluka. The reason I am writing about this song is because of the similarities it has with Bok van Blerk's 'De la Rey'.

This song is also about a great battle between the British Empire and the Zulu Empire called the Battle of Isandlwana during the Anglo-Zulu War. It was a noticeable event for the British Empire as it was the largest loss the Emipre ever sustained by any native force. The British force lead by Lord Chelmsford were taken by surprise beneath the mountain of Isandlwana by Zulu king Cetshwayo's impi (warriors)and defeated.

After looking at these two songs, one has to wonder why so many people are in a huff about the De La Rey song... Both songs sing about conflict with the English and both add identity to our culture.

If anyone has a right to be upset it should be the English! But were not, because those songs are also a part of our history and our identity as well and the songs simply rock.

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