Biko

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Peter Gabriel's Single Cover for His Third Solo Album

Biko is a song which was first released by Peter Gabriel 18th August, 1980[1]. The song was taken from Peter's third solo album under Charisma Records, A British record label[2]. The song features Jerry Marotta as the drummer, Phil Collins playing surdo, David Rhodes as a guitarist, Larry Fast on bagpipes and synth, completed by David Ferguson and Peter on piano and drum pattern[1] The song is devoted to commemorating Bantu Stephen Biko's death, a black South African Anti-apartheid activist[2].

Peter Gabriel's Single Cover Which Contains Biko's Information

Background

Biko's death news was so shocking to Peter Gabriel. Biko was badly beaten; stripped and manacled for 20 days before he was transferred to the Sanlam Building in Port Elizabeth, where the Security Police were based. He was told to keep on standing, but he did not listen, defying the captors and sat down. Infuriated, a Captain Siebert manhandled him, but Steve fought back[3]. Unjustly, alone in police room 619, Biko died on September 12th, 1977 due to injuries he got during an interrogation by the South African Security Police[1]. Thus, after hearing this news, Peter Gabriel wrote how he was feeling regarding the news in his diary and two years later, the words he wrote inspired him to turn it into a song[1].

Impact

Peter Gabriel best believes that Biko's role was really important; that he was potentially to bring a positive force in Africa and could be a leader that young people all over the world could have identified with[1]. But as Biko is no longer with us to speak the matter up, this song successfully increasing awareness regarding Anti-apartheid movements. Many music critics and historians consider this song to be one of the most important and influential protest songs which aligned with Peter Gabriel's purpose; "so that now there are people who are aware of that when otherwise they would not have been.[4] Also, in 1987, this song is used as the soundtrack of a film called Cry Freedom, a biographical drama about Steve Biko[4].

Below is part of Peter Gabriel's Song lyrics about how the world was being too unfair to Black people, especially Biko[5]:

"September '77

Port Elizabeth weather fine

It was business as usual

In police room 619

Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko

Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko

Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja

The man is dead

The man is dead

When I try to sleep at night

I can only dream in red

The outside world is black and white

With only one colour dead

Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko

Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko"

(Peter Gabriel, Biko (2002 Remaster) lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC)

References