“Sun City” -- Artists United Against Apartheid
It is not for nothing that the late Hendrik Verwoerd is known as the “Architect of Apartheid.” When the far-right National Party gained control of the South African government in 1948, its primary policy goals were predicated on making the lives of that nation’s long suffering black majority even more miserable. As the party’s Minister for Native Affairs, Verwoerd gave life to those dreams by devising a program known by an Afrikaans word meaning “apartness” -- apartheid. White South African governments had promoted racial segregation by the establishment of “reserves,” regions in which black citizens were concentrated. Verwoerd proposed the means by which this appallingly callous policy could be made more more appalling, more callous. Beginning in 1951, some 13% of South Africa was segmented into Bantu Homelands, derisively known as Bantustans. These areas, according to Verwoerd, were the ancestral homelands of South Africa’s native population, thus making it fitting and proper that they dwell there under minimal intrusion from white outsiders. They would be independent nations in their own right.
Hendrik Verwoerd -- 1901 to 1966
“Architect of Apartheid.”
"Blacks should never be shown the greener pastures of education,
they should know that their station in life
is to be hewers of wood and drawers of water."
The scheme was insidiously and viciously clever. Because they were now citizens of these national Homelands, black South Africans were no longer citizens of their own nation -- no civil or political rights remained. And that 87% of South Africa not assigned to Bantu Homelands? Since their black neighbors now had their own nations -- in name at least -- and thus no need of or claim to it, that vast area could be freely exploited by the minority white population.
The true malevolence of this arrangement became increasingly apparent when viewed more closely. Consider South Africa’s claim that the independent black Homelands were truly independent: Black tribal leaders objecting to the new system of Apartheid were replaced by those more compliant and dependent upon the white South African government. Because the wealth and status of these leaders rested upon the goodwill of the National Party, they became willing collaborators, oppressing their own community so as to remain in the good graces of their white benefactors. While some measure of “self-government” existed, it was carefully, sometime brutally channeled into paths chosen by and beneficial to white South Africans. Thus the need for government intervention to subdue black unrest, while not totally eliminated, was greatly reduced. The benefits accruing to submissive Homeland leaders unbelievably resulted in some Bantustan elites actually resisting, even violently resisting on occasion, the dismantling of Apartheid.
Bantustans in South Africa (1994)
The oppression of the Bantustans presented economic opportunities to white South Africa and corrupt black tribal leaders alike. While the Homelands were said to be a return of traditional lands to tribal members, that generosity did not extend to the rich natural resources therein. Rich platinum reserves, for example, enriched both their white owners and venal native elites dominating a Homeland, but black miners gained little beyond bone crushing labor, poor wages, and long separations from loved ones. And while South African funds flowed generously into the coffers of those Homeland leaders loyal to their white benefactors, very little of this largesse trickled down to the masses. Chronic and unrelenting unemployment in the black Homelands forced millions of inhabitants to seek low paying menial employment as “guest laborers” in white South Africa.
The existence of the Black Homelands could also help sate more white South African’s more salacious desires as well. The intensively racist South African National Party prided itself on its high moral standards, and when not murdering, plundering, exploiting, or otherwise oppressing the black majority, enforced rigorous standards of proper Calvinist behavior. Ever popular topless dancing revues could not be found in proper South Africa, but a short drive across the countryside and through shantytowns populated by the despised, dispossessed black source of labor could lead to any of a number of luxurious resorts within one or another of the Black Homelands. Because the Bantustans were nominally independent, the superior morality of white South African legal codes did not prevent these vacation sites from catering to the vices of white South Africans. In addition to surrendering to their baser desires, white vacationers could perhaps play a few rounds of golf, feed coins to the slot machines, or improve their blackjack skills. Black citizens of these fictional Homeland states might not be allowed to share in the licentious pleasures, but they were more than welcome to caddy, serve drinks, make beds, or provide janitorial services.
1978 Bophuthatswana Stamps Depicting
President Lucas Mangope
The most infamous of these resorts would be without question Sun City. This extravagant site was born of a devil’s bargain between two individuals having every reason to know the viciousness of bigotry and hatred, yet traded any moral scruples they might once have possessed in return for profit. Solomon “Sol” Kerzner was the child of Jewish parents who escaped that pit of unrelenting anti-semitism that is Russia to find safety, success, and security in South Africa. Lucas Mangope, a formal school teacher, chief of the Motswedi Ba hurutshe-Boo-Manyane tribe, was then President of Bophuthatswana, the most prosperous of the Bantu Homelands, his office guaranteed by the armed might of the South African military in return for his grinding his fellow black countrymen securely under hard heel. In Sun City, these two very different men sharing a common lack of virtue discovered vast profits by further exploiting the countless abuses heaped upon South African majority communities.
Bophuthatswana was the idea location for Sun City. The hungry native population provided a exploitable labor pool while the white populations of nearby Johannesburg and Pretoria offered a steady stream of monied customers. And what sights and pleasures Sun City had to offer! In addition to the blackjack or roulette and gawking at bare-breasted dancers denied them in white South Africa, visitors could play tennis, swim in artificial lagoons complete with artificial islands, the golf, or even feed crocodiles. In 1980, white spectators flocked to Sun City to watch the black reigning heavyweight World Boxing Association champion defend his title against one of their own.
But the entertainment draw that attracted world headlines were the stars of popular music. No nation save South Africa itself pretended the independence of the Bantu Homelands were anything other than an absurd fiction crafted to further South African white supremacy. Thus, the United Nations cultural boycott against South Africa extended to the Black Homelands as well. Sol Kerzner traded his ethics for gold when building Sun City, and his profits provided him funds sufficient to convince many popular singers to ignore any moral queasiness they might have about appearing there. Kerzner opened his wallet wide for those willing to perform in Sun City, and far, far more artists than anyone would have
thought set aside their consciences for profit. Queen, Paul Anka, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Julio Iglesias, the Beach Boys, Black Sabbath, Linda Ronstadt, Boney M, Cher, Rod Stewart, Millie Jackson, Dionne Warwick and Tina Turner, and the fittingly named Status Quo all answered Kerzner’s summons and defied international sanctions to sing in Sun City.
Musician Steven Van Zandt was horrified by the complicity of his fellow artists in legitimizing racist South African institutions, and sought some means of publicizing this compromise with inhumanity. Working closely with journalist (and secret National African Congress operative) Danny Schechter and music producer Arthur Baker, he found one. In 1985, the three men had found 54 kindred spirits -- pop divas, rock stars, jazz virtuosos, rappers, blues troubadours, soul singers, heavy metal head bangers, and others. The diversity of those donating time and talent is instantly apparent by a cursory glance at the list of volunteers: Miles Davis, Ruben Blades, Bob Dylan, Pat Benatar, Herbie Hancock, Ringo Starr and son Zak Starkey, Bob Geldof, Clarence Clemons, Peter Gabriel, Jimmy Cliff, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Run-D.M.C, Lou Reed, Daryl Hannah, Bono, George Clinton, Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt, Hall & Oates, Peter Garrett, Joey Ramone, Kool DJ Herc, Grandmaster Melle Mel, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Darlene Love, Bobby Womack, Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, The Fat Boys, Peter Wolf, Ronnie Wood, Big Youth, Michael Monroe, Mötley Crüe, Stiv Bators, Ron Carter, Ray Barretto, Gil Scott-Heron, Nona Hendryx, Lotti Golden, and Lakshminarayana Shankar.
Sun City
Artists United Against Apartheid
The album produced received international acclaim, selling exceptionally well in any number of countries. The title song achieved remarkable success in Canada, the UK, Australia, and elsewhere. It was banned, of course, in South Africa although it was heard by and inspired local artists. While not explicitly banned in the United States, it was not welcomed with open arms. “Sun City” was openly critical of US President Ronald Reagan’s embrace of the Apartheid government, and over half of US radio stations refused to give it airplay, citing its political content. Even Public Broadcasting Service refused to show the International Documentary Association honored non-profit documentary describing the making of the album.
“Sun City” -- Artists United Against Apartheid
Sun City, na na na na na, Sun City
Na na na na na...
We're rockers and rappers
United and strong
We're here to talk about South Africa
We don't like what's going on
It's time for some justice
It's time for the truth
We've realized there's
Only one thing we can do
You got to say I, I, I
Ain't gonna play Sun City
I, I, I ain't gonna play Sun City
Everybody say I, I, I
Ain't gonna play Sun City
I, I, I, I, I ain't gonna play Sun City
Relocation to phony homelands
Separation of families
I can't understand
23 million can't vote
Because they're black
We're stabbing our brothers
And sisters in the back
I wanna say I, I, I
Ain't gonna play Sun City
I, I, I ain't gonna play Sun City
Our government tells us
We're doing all we can
Constructive engagement is
Ronald Reagan's plan
Meanwhile people are dying
And giving up hope
This quiet diplomacy
Ain't nothing but a joke
I, I, I ain't gonna play Sun City
I, I, I ain't gonna play Sun City
Na na na na na...
It's time to accept our responsibility
Freedom is a privilege
Nobody rides for free
Look around the world, baby
It cannot be denied
Somebody tell me why
We're always on the wrong side
I, I, I ain't gonna play Sun City
I, I, I ain't gonna play Sun City
Bophuthatswana is far away
But we know it's in South Africa
No matter what they say
You can't buy me
I don't care what you pay
Don't ask me Sun City
Because I ain't gonna play
I, I, I ain't gonna play Sun City
Lemme hear you say
I, I, I, I, I, I
Ain't gonna play Sun City
I don't wanna play Sun City
Relocation to phony homelands
Separation of families
I can't understand
23 million can't vote
'Cause they're black
We're stabbing our brothers
And sisters in the back
I, I, I ain't gonna play Sun City
I, I, I ain't gonna play Sun City...
Today, South Africa is a new nation. Bantu Homelands are found only the history books, and black South Africans have the same range of political and civil rights as do their white countrymen. The regime of Lucas Mangope toppled with the racist system that gave him power, and today he is a nearly forgotten man fighting vainly to regain relevance.
But something remain constant. Sun City thrives still albeit now with a multiracial client base. And Sol Kerzner continues to prosper as well, managing far more successfully than did his old partner in peccability in adjusting to the changing times. He would later be entrusted with overseeing many of the social functions associated with the inauguration of Nelson Mandela.
But something remain constant. Sun City thrives still albeit now with a multiracial client base. And Sol Kerzner continues to prosper as well, managing far more successfully than did his old partner in peccability in adjusting to the changing times. He would later be entrusted with overseeing many of the social functions associated with the inauguration of Nelson Mandela.
Sol Kerzner Toasts Nelson Mandela
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