Umkhonto we Sizwe

Umkhonto we Sizwe (abbreviated as MK, Zulu for "Spear of the Nation") was the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), co-founded by Nelson Mandela in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre. Its founding represented the conviction in the face of the massacre that the ANC could no longer limit itself to nonviolent protest; its mission was to fight against the South African government. After warning the South African government in June 1961 of its intent to resist further acts of terror if the government did not take steps toward constitutional reform and increase political rights, MK launched its first attacks against government installations on 16 December 1961. It was subsequently classified as a terrorist organisation by the South African government and the United States, and banned.

For a time it was headquartered in the affluent suburb of Rivonia, in Johannesburg. On 11 July 1963, 19 ANC and MK leaders, including Arthur Goldreich and Walter Sisulu, were arrested at Liliesleaf Farm, Rivonia. The farm was privately owned by Arthur Goldreich and bought with South African Communist Party and ANC funds, as individuals who were not white were unable to own a property in that area under the Group Areas Act. This was followed by the Rivonia Trial, in which ten leaders of the ANC were tried for 221 militant acts designed to "foment violent revolution". Wilton Mkwayi, chief of MK at the time, escaped during trial.

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Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation)

Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) is a reggae album by Prince Far I, released in 1984 and which he was recording when he was murdered in 1983. The album is named in honor of the fight of the militant wing of the ANC.

The album was engineered by Overton "Scientist" Brown and Sylvan Morris. Backing vocals were by Jah Lloyd, Winston Jarrett and The Viceroys.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Michael Williams and Roy Cousins

"Survival"

"Survival Version"

"Ask Ask"

"Ask Ask Version"

"African Queen"

"African Queen Version"

"Stop the War"

"Stop the War Version"

"Jerry Doghead"

"Jerry Doghead Version"

"Special Request"

"Special Request Version"

References

↑ Katz, David:"Solid Foundation - An Oral History of Reggae", 2003, Bloomsbury, ISBN 0-7475-6847-2

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Prince Far I

Prince Far I (c. 1944 – 15 September 1983) was a Jamaican reggae deejay, producer and a Rastafarian. He was known for his gruff voice and critical assessment of the Jamaican government. His track "Heavy Manners" used lyrics against measures initiated towards violent crime.

Biography

He was born Michael James Williams in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Williams' first job in the music industry was as a deejay on the Sir Mike the Musical Dragon sound system, also working as a security guard at Joe Gibbs' studio, and later as a bouncer at Studio One, but after recording "The Great Booga Wooga" for Bunny Lee in 1969 (under the name King Cry Cry, a reference to his habit of breaking into tears when angered), he got the chance in 1970 to record for Coxsone Dodd when King Stitt failed to turn up for a session. Dodd was sufficiently impressed to release the resulting recordings, Williams now using the name Prince Far I at the suggestion of another producer he had worked with, Enos McLeod). With a unique deep bass voice and talking over style, preferring to describe himself as a "chanter" rather than a "toaster", he became a popular reggae musician, styling himself "The Voice of Thunder".