Kerry-Anne Allerston
I was leaving his friend Verny’s studio maybe twenty years ago when I bumped into him at the door. It was the first time we’d properly met and it was only a quick hello, but there was a warmth and kindness about him that stayed with me long afterwards.
Over the years I became friends with some of the band members and I’d make a point of catching their shows whenever I could. We’d often end up sharing a meal after the gig and, before I knew it, it had become a yearly tradition. I’m talking about a person who came into this world and changed it simply by being here. Someone courageous, unique and extraordinary. A beam of light who seemed to bring people together wherever he went. It was his birthday recently and he’s been on my mind a lot. I’m talking about the legendary Johnny Clegg, who would have turned 73 on June 7.
I think most of us make a difference while we’re here. It doesn’t matter how much or how little we have, only that what we do, we do with kindness, compassion and love. It often makes me wonder what the world would be like if people as impactful as Johnny Clegg had been given more time. So many of those who stand up for what matters, whether loudly or quietly, seem to leave us far too soon. Imagine if Johnny Clegg, Bob Marley and John Lennon were all still here, still creating, still inspiring and still encouraging us to build a better world. I know I’m only mentioning a handful of remarkable people, but I’m grateful that the footprints they left behind remain visible through their music and the messages they shared.
