WATCH: Jesse Clegg opens up about his dad's statue, new music and playing at Carnegie Hall

Kfm 94.5's Carl Wastie catches up with legendary musician Jesse Clegg. 

Listen below:

Jesse Clegg was back in Cape Town to honour his late dad Johnny Clegg, who was immortalised in the Long March to Freedom exhibition at Century City, the world’s greatest exhibition in bronze on 27 March 2025.

Clegg’s statue took its rightful place in South Africa’s history and the story of our fight for democracy.

The Long March to Freedom is a procession of life-size bronze statues, each depicting a freedom fighter who never gave up the idea of a liberated South Africa. 

Many know the artist for his music, but Clegg was far more than a talented songster.

Born in England in 1953 and raised in South Africa, Clegg became deeply involved in Zulu culture. As a young man, he defied apartheid and the separation it stood for by forming multi-racial bands like Savuka and Juluka.

This defiance was not taken lightly by the apartheid regime, which inflicted deep censorship. However, Clegg’s voice couldn’t be silenced.

Clegg's songs such as Asimbonanga and Scatterings of Africa boomed as anthems of unity.

He was an unapologetic advocate for social justice, using his success to challenge the government and promote racial reconciliation.

Now, his son and granddaughter have the honour of memorialising his memory.

"It was a really heartfelt moment... It's a symbol and a representation and gives you a sense of who he was. It was just beautiful."

- Jesse Clegg

But that's not all...

Clegg just returned from New York where he performed a tribute show to his father where artists from around the world and South Africa took the stage to celebrate his life at the Gramercy Theatre.

"It was just so beautiful because I got to play Carnegie Hall in November last year and that was my show and then I got to come back three months later to play my dad's songs... It just felt like there was this beautiful relay race happening between me and my dad in New York." 

- Jesse Clegg

There's more...

Clegg also dropped a new single called Darker Days which was three years in the making; give it a stream on any platform. 

The song is about dancing with the demons inside yourself.

"We all have demons and we're all trying to run away from them... But you never escape them. You mustn't try to run away from them. You must learn to dance with them... and if you can learn to dance with your demons then life is a dance. So, the song is about acknowledging that darkness but also accepting it and finding a way to be present with it... It's a hopeful song."

- Jesse Clegg

"Life is chaotic but there's something also beautiful about that... So, it's about not losing sight of the horizon and having that sense of hope and connection to the future." 

- Jesse Clegg

And in an exclusive moment on The Flash Drive...

Clegg performed a song recommended by his biggest fan, his daughter, called 'Use Me', completely unplugged, and it was epic.

Watch below:

Ah, we love it when Clegg stops by - until next time!

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the conversation.