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Scatterlings

Scatterlings is a studio album by Juluka, a South African band led by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. It was released in 1982. The album contains "Scatterlings of Africa", arguably the band's biggest hit, which would be re-recorded to more international success by Juluka's successor band, Savuka.

Last revised
Jul 9, 2026
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Scatterlings
Studio album by
Juluka
Released1982
Recorded1982
GenreWorld Music
LabelEMI/Music Incorporated
Warner Bros. (Internationally)1
Rhythm Safari (reissues 1996-onwards)
ProducerHilton Rosenthal
Juluka chronology
Ubuhle Bemvelo
(1982) 		Scatterlings
(1982) 		Work for All
(1983)
Singles from Scatterlings
  1. "Scatterlings of Africa"
    Released: January 1983
  2. "Umbaqanga Music"
    Released: April 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar2
Robert ChristgauB3
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarStarStar4
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album GuideStarStarStar1
The Philadelphia InquirerStarStar5
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStarHalf star6

Scatterlings is a studio album by Juluka, a South African band led by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu.78 It was released in 1982.910 The album contains "Scatterlings of Africa", arguably the band's biggest hit, which would be re-recorded to more international success by Juluka's successor band, Savuka.

Background and composition

Johnny Clegg stated after the album's release that Juluka had written it with the intent of making it appeal to an audience outside South Africa. The album's lyrics, and the title track "Scatterlings of Africa" in particular include themes of African identity and humanity's shared African heritage. Several songs included political themes: "Siyayilanda" (translated figuratively to "we are seizing the future") for example, was written for Neil Aggett, an anti-apartheid activist and Clegg's friend, who had died in February 1982 in South African Police Service custody after being tortured.11

Release and reception

Scatterlings was released in September 1982.11 Robert Christgau wrote that "being a folkie in South Africa takes a lot more guts than it does in liberal societies, and that's audible all over this album—as are the melodic resources of the Zulu tradition, which happen to be vocal rather than percussive."3 The Globe and Mail wrote that "the music is an unusual and immensely attractive hybrid of tuneful late sixties English folk (in the Fairport Convention, Renaissance mode) with African rhythms."12 The Philadelphia Inquirer thought that the band members "are to African music what Crosby, Stills & Nash are to American—namely, wimpy, sappy and awful."5 Scholar Richard Pithouse wrote that it was a "superb album with powerfully honed lyrics [and] a compelling rock influence", though he noted that the popularity of "Scatterlings of Africa" overshadowed the rest of the album to some degree.11

Track listing

Original South African Vinyl Release

  1. "Siyayilanda" (Clegg) – 3:43
  2. "Kwela Man" (Clegg) – 3:54
  3. "Simple Things" (Clegg, Mchunu) – 3:57
  4. "iJwanasibeki" (Clegg) – 4:50
  5. "Two Humans on the Run" (Clegg) – 4:41
  6. "Scatterlings of Africa" (Clegg) – 5:50
  7. "Spirit is the Journey" (Clegg, Mchunu) – 4:40
  8. "Digging for Some Words" (Clegg) – 4:12
  9. "Shake My Way" (Mchunu) – 3:43
  10. "Mad Dog" (Clegg) – 3:29

International Release

  1. "Scatterlings of Africa"
  2. "Spirit is the Journey"
  3. "Umbaqanga Music"
  4. "Digging for Some Words"
  5. "Shake My Way"
  6. "Siyayilanda"
  7. "Kwela Man"
  8. "Simple Things"
  9. "iJwanasibeki"
  10. "Two Humans on the Run"

Re-issue

  1. "Siyayilanda" - 3:57
  2. "Kwela Man" - 3:53
  3. "Simple Things" - 4:12
  4. "iJwanasibeki" - 4:49
  5. "Two Humans on the Run" - 4:38
  6. "Scatterlings of Africa" - 5:33
  7. "Spirit is the Journey" - 4:38
  8. "Digging for Some Words" - 4:10
  9. "Shake my Way" - 3:41
  10. "Mad Dog" - 4:25

Personnel

  • Johnny Clegg - vocals, guitar
  • Sipho Mchunu - guitar, percussion, vocals
  • Gary Van Zyl - bass guitar, percussion, vocals
  • Zola Mtiya - drums, percussion, vocals
  • Tim Hoare - keyboards, vocals
  • Scorpion Madondo - flute, vocals
Additional personnel
  • Mike Faure - saxophone (on "Simple Things" and "Spirit is the Journey")
  • Mike Makhalemele - saxophone (on "Siyayilanda")
  • Glenda Millar - keyboards, synthesisers (on "Umbaqanga Music")
References

References

  1. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 243.
  2. "Scatterlings - Juluka | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. "Robert Christgau: CG: Juluka". www.robertchristgau.com.
  4. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. pp. 413–414.
  5. Rea, Steven X. (24 July 1983). "JULUKA Scatterlings". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. P16.
  6. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 385.
  7. "Pop's African Roots". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  8. Morse, Steve (12 November 1983). "REVIEW / MUSIC: JULUKA SINGS ITS PEACE". The Boston Globe. Arts. p. 1.
  9. "Ladysmith and Clegg hit town". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
  10. Benarde, Scott. "BYPASSED RECORDINGS MERIT A SECOND LOOK". Sun-Sentinel.com.
  11. Pithouse, Richard (2025). "Johnny Clegg and the Poetry and Politics of Migrant Labour". In Drewett, Michael; Spini, Lucilla (eds.). Johnny Clegg: Critical Reflections on His Music and Influence. NYU Press. pp. 83–112. ISBN 978-1-77614-964-3.
  12. Lacey, Liam (23 July 1983). "INSIDE THE SLEEVE POP Scatterlings Of Africa Juluka". The Globe and Mail. p. F6.
External links