Paul Simon's 'Graceland' and the Apartheid Controversy

• In 1985, Paul Simon broke the international cultural boycott of apartheid-era South Africa to record with local musicians, creating the critically acclaimed 1986 album 'Graceland'.
• The album fused pop/folk with South African styles like mbaqanga and township jive, featuring collaborations with artists like Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Ray Phiri.
• Simon faced intense backlash from activists, the UN, and the African National Congress (ANC) for ignoring the boycott, leading to inclusion on a UN blacklist and protests during his subsequent tour.
• The project triggered a complex debate regarding artistic freedom versus political responsibility and accusations of cultural appropriation.
• Nelson Mandela eventually reconciled with Simon in 1992, acknowledging the album's role in globalizing South African culture and helping shed light on the realities of apartheid.

The Journey to South Africa

• Following personal and professional struggles, Simon was inspired by the 1984 cassette 'Accordion Jive Hits Vol. II' by The Boyoyo Boys.
• Despite advice from activist Harry Belafonte to consult the ANC, Simon traveled to Johannesburg in February 1985 to record at Ovation Studios.
• He collaborated with:
  • Ladysmith Black Mambazo ('Homeless', 'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes')
  • Ray Phiri (guitarist on 'Crazy Love, Vol. II', 'Under African Skies')
  • Bakithi Kumalo (bass on 'You Can Call Me Al', 'Graceland')
  • General M. D. Shirinda and the Gaza Sisters
  • Tao Ea Matsekha

Political Controversy and Impact

• The UN had maintained a formal cultural boycott since 1968 (Resolution 2396) and 1980 (Resolution 35/206).
• Artists like Jerry Dammers and organizations like United Artists Against Apartheid criticized Simon for breaking the blockade that artists were using to pressure the Afrikaner government.
• Simon defended his actions as artistic, not political, donating his tour profits to anti-apartheid charities and community organizations.
• Some South African musicians, including Joseph Shabalala and Miriam Makeba, supported the collaboration, arguing it helped bring their repressed culture to the world stage.
• Others, such as Jonas Gwangwa, accused Simon of cultural appropriation and exploiting Black South African musicians.

Legacy and Reconciliation

• 'Graceland' won the Grammy for Album of the Year and sold millions, significantly boosting the international careers of his South African collaborators.
• Following the album's success, the ANC eventually softened its stance, requiring artists to seek approval for collaborations rather than imposing a blanket ban.
• In 1992, after his release from prison, Nelson Mandela invited Simon to perform in South Africa, effectively marking the end of the cultural boycott and validating the global exposure the album provided.